160 CRUSOE A BASKET-MAKER.

In this time I found much employment (and very suitable also
to the time), for I found great occasion of many things which I
had no way to furnish myself with but by hard labour and con-
stant application; particularly I tried many ways to make myself
a basket, but all the twigs I could get for the purpose proved so
brittle that they would do nothing. It proved of excellent advan-
tage to me now, that when I was a boy I used to take great
delight in standing at a basket-maker’s in the town where my
father lived to see them make their wicker-ware; and being, as
boys usually are, very officious to help, and a great observer of the
manner how they worked those things, and sometimes lending a
hand, I had by this means full knowledge of the methods of it,
that I wanted nothing but the materials, when it came into my
mind that the twigs of that tree from whence I cut my stakes that
grew might possibly be as tough as the sallows, and willows, and
osiers in England, and I resolved to try.

Accordingly the next day I went to my country-house, as I
called it, and cutting some of the smaller twigs, I found them to
my purpose as much as I could desire; whereupon I came the
next time prepared with a hatchet to cut down a quantity, which
T soon found, for there was great plenty of them. These I set up
to dry within my circle or hedge, and when they were fit for use
T carried them to my cave, and here during the next season I em-
ployed myself in making, as well as I could, a great many baskets,
both to carry earth, or to carry or lay up anything as I had occa-
sion; and though I did not finish them very handsomely, yet 1
made them sufficiently serviceable for my purpose ; and thus after-
wards I took care never to be without them. And as my wicker-
ware decayed I made more; especially I made strong deep baskets
to place my corn in instead of sacks, when I should come-to have
any quantity of it.

Having mastered this difficulty, and employed a world of time
about it, I bestirred myself to see if possible how to supply two wants.
I had no vessels to hold anything that was liquid except two run-
lets, which were almost full of rum, and some glass bottles, some
of the common size, and others which were case-bottles square, for
the holding of water, spirits, &e. I had not so much as a pot to