60 LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF

sorts of sea-fowls, which I did not understand; but was surprised,
and almost frightened, with two or three seals, which, while I
was gazing at, not well knowing what they were, got into the
sea, and escaped me for that time.

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

Nov. 7.—Now it began to be settled fair weather. The 7th,
8th, 9th, 10th, and part of the 12th (for the 11th was Sunday) I
took wholly up to make me a chair, and with much ado brought
it to a tolerable shape, but never to please me; and even in the
making I pulled it in pieces several times.

Note.—I soon neglected my keeping Sundays; for, omitting
my mark for them on my post, I forgot which was which.

Nov. 13.—This day it rained, which refreshed me exceedingly,
and cooled the earth; but it was accompanied with terrible
thunder and lightning, which frightened me dreadfully, for fear
of my powder. As soon as it was over, I resolved to separate
my stock of powder into as many little parcels as possible, that
it might not be in danger.

Nov. 14, 15, 16.—These three days I spent in making little
square chests, or boxes, which might hold about a pound, or two
pounds at most, of powder; and so, putting the powder in, I
stowed it in places as secure and remote from one another as
possible. On one of these three days I killed a large bird that
was good to eat, but 1 knew not what to call it.

Nov. 17.—This day I began to dig behind my tent into the
rock, to make room for my further conveniency.

Note.—Three things I wanted exceedingly for this work—
viz. a pickaxe, a shovel, and a wheelbarrow or basket; so I de-
sisted from my work, and began to consider how to supply that
want, and make me some tools. As for the pickaxe, I made use
of the iron crows, which were proper enough, though heavy ;
but the next thing was a shovel or spade; this was so absolutely
necessary, that, indeed, I could do nothing effectually without
it; but what kind of one to make I knew not.

Nov. 18.—The next day, in searching the woods, I found a tree
of that wood, or like it, which in the Brazils they call the iron-
tree, for its exceeding hardness. Of this, with great labour, and
almost spoiling my axe, I cut a piece, and brought it home, too,
with difficulty enough, for it was exceeding heavy. The excessive
hardness of the wood, and my having no other way, made me a
long while upon this machine, for I worked it effectually by little
and little into the form of a shovel or spade; the handle exactly