THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, 125

gun to see for some food, and discover the country, when I killed
a she-goat, and her kid followed me home, which I afterwards
killed also, because it would not feed.

November 1. I set up my tent under a rock, and lay there for
the first night, making it as large as I could with stakes driven in
to swing my hammock upon.

November 2. I set up all my chests and boards, and the pieces
of timber which made my rafts, and with them formed a fence
round me, a little within the place I had marked out for my for-
tification.

November 3. I went out with my gun, and killed two fowls like
ducks, which were very good food. In the afternoon went to work
to make me a table.

November 4. This morning I began to order my times of work,
of going out with my gun, time of sleep and time of diversion—
namely, every morning I walked out with my gun for two or three
hours if it did not rain, then employed myself to work till about
eleven o’clock, then ate what I had to live on; and from twelve to
two I lay down to sleep, the weather being excessive hot; and
then in the evening to work again. The working part of this day
and of the next were wholly employed in making my table; for I
was yet but a very sorry workman, though time and necessity
made me a complete natural mechanic soon after, as I believe it
would do any one else.

November 5. This day went abroad with my gun and my dog,
and killed a wild cat, her skin pretty soft, but her flesh good for
nothing. Every creature I killed I took off the skins and pre-
served them. Coming back by the sea-shore, I saw many sorts of
sea-fowls which I did not understand; but was surprised and
almost frightened with two or three seal; which while I was
gazing at, not well knowing what they were, got into the sea, and
escaped me for that time.

November 6. After my morning walk I went to work with my
table again, and finished it, though not to oy liking ; nor was it
long before I learned to mend it.

November 7. Now it began to be settled fair weather. The 7th,
8th, 9th, 10th, and part of the 12th (for the 11th was Sunday),