The Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe | Page 8

a framed sloop on board the ship, which, being taken in
pieces, might, by the help of some carpenters, whom we agreed to carry
with us, be set up again in the island, and finished fit to go to sea in a
few days. I was not long resolving, for indeed the importunities of my
nephew joined so effectually with my inclination that nothing could
oppose me; on the other hand, my wife being dead, none concerned
themselves so much for me as to persuade me one way or the other,
except my ancient good friend the widow, who earnestly struggled with
me to consider my years, my easy circumstances, and the needless
hazards of a long voyage; and above all, my young children. But it was
all to no purpose, I had an irresistible desire for the voyage; and I told
her I thought there was something so uncommon in the impressions I
had upon my mind, that it would be a kind of resisting Providence if I
should attempt to stay at home; after which she ceased her
expostulations, and joined with me, not only in making provision for
my voyage, but also in settling my family affairs for my absence, and
providing for the education of my children. In order to do this, I made
my will, and settled the estate I had in such a manner for my children,
and placed in such hands, that I was perfectly easy and satisfied they

would have justice done them, whatever might befall me; and for their
education, I left it wholly to the widow, with a sufficient maintenance
to herself for her care: all which she richly deserved; for no mother
could have taken more care in their education, or understood it better;
and as she lived till I came home, I also lived to thank her for it.
My nephew was ready to sail about the beginning of January 1694-5;
and I, with my man Friday, went on board, in the Downs, the 8th;
having, besides that sloop which I mentioned above, a very
considerable cargo of all kinds of necessary things for my colony,
which, if I did not find in good condition, I resolved to leave so.
First, I carried with me some servants whom I purposed to place there
as inhabitants, or at least to set on work there upon my account while I
stayed, and either to leave them there or carry them forward, as they
should appear willing; particularly, I carried two carpenters, a smith,
and a very handy, ingenious fellow, who was a cooper by trade, and
was also a general mechanic; for he was dexterous at making wheels
and hand-mills to grind corn, was a good turner and a good pot-maker;
he also made anything that was proper to make of earth or of wood: in a
word, we called him our Jack-of-all-trades. With these I carried a tailor,
who had offered himself to go a passenger to the East Indies with my
nephew, but afterwards consented to stay on our new plantation, and
who proved a most necessary handy fellow as could be desired in many
other businesses besides that of his trade; for, as I observed formerly,
necessity arms us for all employments.
My cargo, as near as I can recollect, for I have not kept account of the
particulars, consisted of a sufficient quantity of linen, and some English
thin stuffs, for clothing the Spaniards that I expected to find there; and
enough of them, as by my calculation might comfortably supply them
for seven years; if I remember right, the materials I carried for clothing
them, with gloves, hats, shoes, stockings, and all such things as they
could want for wearing, amounted to about two hundred pounds,
including some beds, bedding, and household stuff, particularly kitchen
utensils, with pots, kettles, pewter, brass, &c.; and near a hundred
pounds more in ironwork, nails, tools of every kind, staples, hooks,

hinges, and every necessary thing I could think of.
I carried also a hundred spare arms, muskets, and fusees; besides some
pistols, a considerable quantity of shot of all sizes, three or four tons of
lead, and two pieces of brass cannon; and, because I knew not what
time and what extremities I was providing for, I carried a hundred
barrels of powder, besides swords, cutlasses, and the iron part of some
pikes and halberds. In short, we had a large magazine of all sorts of
store; and I made my nephew carry two small quarter-deck guns more
than he wanted for his ship, to leave behind if there was occasion; so
that when we came there we might build a fort and man it against all
sorts of enemies. Indeed, I at first thought there would be need enough