Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-18
CRUSOE'S ISLAND.
Juan Fernandez Visited by Capt. Slo-
in His Ship spray.

From the Century
A visit to the island where Alexander Sell
kirk passed live solitary years-an island
which several times of late years has been
reported as sunk-whiIe on his single
handed" voyage around the world in his
slOop the Spray, Capt. Joshua Slocum de-
scribes follows:
The Spray being secured, the islanders
returned to the coffee and doughnuts, and
was more than fattered when they did not
slight my buns, as the professor had done
in the Strait of Magellan. Between buns
and doughnuts there was little difference
except in name. Both had been fried in
tallow, which was the strong point in both,
for there was nothing the island fatter
than a goat. and a goat is but q lean
beast to make the best of it. So with a
view TO business | hooked my steelyards
to the boom at once, ready to weigh out
tallow, there being no customs officer to
say, why do you do sO2' and before the
sun went down the islanders had learned
the art of making buns and doughnuts.
did not charge high price for what | sold
but the ancient and curious coins I got in
payment, some of them from the wreck of
a galleon sunk in the bay. no one knows
when, i sod afterward to antiquarians for
more than face value. In this way | made
a reasonable profit ] brought away money
Of all denominations from the island, and
nearly all there was, SO far as | could find
out.
Juan Fernandez, as a place Of call is a
lovely spot. The hills are well wooded, the
valleys fertile, and pouring down through
many raVines are streams of pure water
There are no serpents on the island and no
wild beasts other than pigs and goats of
which saw d number. with possibly q dog
or two. The people lived without the use of
rum or beer of any sort. There was not a
police officer or lawyer among them The
domestic economy of the island was simple
ity Itself. The fashions of Paris did not
affect the inhabitants; each dressed ac-
nah no.,
was no doctor, the people were all healthy
and the children were all beautiful. There
were about forty-five souls on the island all
told. The adults We're mostly from the
mainland of South America One .ady there
from Chile, who made a flying jib for the
Spray, taking her pay in tallow, would be
called belle at Newport. Blessed island
of Juan Fernandez! Why Alexander Selkirk
ever left you was more than | could make
out.
A large ship which had arrived some time
before. on fire, had been stranded at the
head of the bay, and as the sea smashed
her to pieces on the rocks after the fire
was drowned the islanders picked I'D the
timbers and utilized them In the construc-
llon or houses, which naturally presented
ship-like appearance. The house of the
king of Juan Fernandez, Manuel Carroza
by name, besides resembling the ark, wore
a polished brass knocker on its only door
which was painted green. In front of this
gorgeous entrance was flag mast all
ataunto, and near it a smart whale boat
painted red and blue, the delight of the
kings old age.
/. of course, made pilgrimage to the old
lookout place at the top of the mountain
where Se,kirk spent many days peering into
the distance for the ship which came at
last. The cave in which Selkirk
dwelt while on the island is at the head of
the bay, now called Robinson Crusoe BAY
1t is around bold headland west of the
present anchorage and landing Ships have
anchored there, but it affords a very indif-
har
once convict station. A number of caves
IN which the prisoners Were kept damp,
unwholesome dens are no longer in use
! island