CHAPTER XXIV.

CHAPTER XXIV.

_Useful occupations and labours.—Embellishments; a painful but

natural sentiment._

On the following day, neither my wife nor the boys left me a

moment’s tranquillity till I had put my manufactory of candles

in some forwardness: I therefore set myself to recollect all

I had read on the subject. I soon perceived that I should be

at a loss for a little suet or mutton fat to mix with the wax

I had procured from the berries, for making the light burn clearer;

but as I had neither of these articles, I was compelled to proceed

without them. I put as many berries into a vessel as it would

contain, and set it on a moderate fire; my wife in the mean time

employed herself in making some wicks with the threads of sail-cloth.

When we saw an oily matter of a pleasing smell and light green

colour, rise to the top of the liquid the berries had yielded,

we carefully skimmed it off and put it into a separate vessel,

taking care to keep it warm. We continued this process till the

berries were exhausted and had produced a considerable quantity

of wax; we next dipped the wicks one by one into it, while it

remained liquid, and then hung them on the bushes to harden:

in a short time, we dipped them again, and continued repeating

the operation, till the candles were increased to the proper

size, and they were then put in a place and kept, till sufficiently

hardened for use. We, however, were all eager to judge of our

success that very evening, by burning one of the candles, with

which we were all well satisfied. In consequence of this new

treasure, we should now be able to sit up later, and consequently

spend less of our time in sleep; but independently of this advantage,

the mere sight of a candle, which for so long a time we had been

deprived of, caused ecstasies of joy to all.

Our success in this last enterprise, encouraged us to think of

another, the idea of which had long been cherished by our kind

steward of provisions: it was, to make fresh butter of the cream

we every day skimmed from the milk, and which was frequently,

to her great vexation, spoiled, and given to the animals for

want of such a process. The utensil we stood in need of, was

a churn, to turn the cream in. Having earnestly applied my thoughts,

as to the most effectual manner of conquering the difficulty,

I suddenly recollected what I had read in a book of travels,

of the method used by the Hottentots for making butter; but in

adopting it, I determined to introduce one feature of proceeding,

for which, apparently, they have not a partiality; and this was,

the utmost attention to cleanliness. Instead of a sheep-skin

sewed together at its extremities, I emptied a large gourd of

its natural contents, and filled it again with cream, and stopped

it quite close with the piece I had cut from the top. I placed

my vase of cream on a piece of coarse linen cloth with four corners,

which last I tied to four stakes; I placed one boy midway between

each stake, and directed them to shake the linen briskly, but

with a steady measure, for a certain time. This exercise, which

seemed like children’s play, pleased them mightily, and they

called it rocking the cradle. They performed their office singing

and laughing all the time, and in an hour, on taking off the

cover, we had the satisfaction of seeing some excellent butter.

We heartily congratulated each other, and praised the workmen,

who by their constancy of labour, had thus produced one of the

first conveniences in the list of articles for food.

The employments we had thus been engaged in, were little different

from play; but now a question occurred of one that would require

our most serious attention:—it was the constructing a cart, in

all its forms, for the better conveyance of our effects from

place to place, instead of the sledge which caused us so much

fatigue to load and draw. Many reasons induced me to confine

my attempt in the first instance to a two-wheel cart, and to

observe the result before I ventured on one with four wheels.

I will not fatigue the reader with the detail of my undertaking:

I tried earnestly and long to accomplish my machine; but it did

not entirely succeed to my wishes, and I wasted in the attempt

both time and timber. I however produced what from courtesy we

called a cart; but I would not advise my readers to take it for

a model, though, to say the truth, to us it answered the purpose

for which it was designed.

While I was thus laboriously engaged, the boys and their mother

were no less busy in matters of use or convenience; and I now

and then left my cart to assist them with my advice, though,

to do them justice, I must say, they seldom stood in need of

it. They undertook to transplant the greatest part of the European

fruit-trees, to place them where they would be in a better situation

for growth, according to the properties of each. They planted

vine shoots round the roots of the magnificent tree we inhabited,

and round the trunks of some other kinds of trees which grew

near; and we watched them in the fond anticipation that they

would in time ascend to a height capable of being formed into

a sort of trellis, and help to cool us by their shade. In the

climate we inhabited, the vine requires the protection of the

larger trees against the scorching rays of the sun. Lastly, we

planted two parallel lines of saplings, consisting of chesnut,

cherry, and the common nut-trees, to form an avenue from Family

Bridge to Falcon’s Stream, which would hereafter afford us a

cool shade in our walks to Tent House. This last undertaking

was not to be effected without a degree of labour and fatigue

the most discouraging:—the ground was to be cleared of every

thing it had produced, and a certain breadth covered with sand,

left higher in the middle than on the sides, for the sake of

being always dry. The boys fetched the sand from the sea-side

in their wheel-barrows, and I also nailed together a few pieces

of wood, in the form of a tub, which could be harnessed to the

ass to ease in some measure their fatigue.

Our next concern was to introduce, if possible, some shade and

other improvements on the barren site of Tent House, and to render

our occasional abode or visits there more secure. We began by

planting in a quincunx all those sorts of trees that thrive best in

the sun, such as lemon, pistachio, almond, mulberry, and lime-trees;

lastly, some of a kind of orange-tree which attains to a prodigious

size, and bears a fruit as large as the head of a child[12],

and weighs not less than twelve or fourteen pounds. The commoner

sorts of nut-trees we placed along the shore in the most favourable

situations. The better to conceal and fortify our tent, which

inclosed all our stores, we formed on the accessible side, a

hedge of wild orange and lemon-trees, which produce an abundant

prickly foliage; and to add to the agreeableness of their appearance,

we introduced here and there the pomegranate; nor did I omit

to make a little arbour of the guava shrub, which is easily raised

from slips, and bears a small fruit rather pleasant to the taste.

We also took care to introduce at proper places a certain number

of the largest sorts of trees, which in time would serve the

double purpose of shading annual plants, and, with benches placed

under them, of a kind of private cabinet. Should any accident

or alarm compel us to retire to the fortress of Tent-House, a

thing of the first importance would be to find there sufficient

food for our cattle. For the greater security, I formed a plantation

of the thorny fig-tree, of sufficient breadth to occupy the space

between our fortress and the river, thus rendering it difficult

for an enemy to approach.

The curving form of the river having left some partial elevations

of the soil within the inclosure, I found means to work them

into slopes and angles so as to serve as bastions to our two

cannon from the pinnace and our other fire-arms, should we ever

be attacked by savages. When this was all complete, we perceived

that one thing more was wanting, which was to make such alterations

in Family Bridge as would enable us to use it as a drawbridge

or to take it away entirely, this being the only point at which

the passage of the river could be easily effected. But as we

could not do all at once, we contented ourselves, for present

safety, with taking away the first planks of the bridge at each

end every time we passed it. My concluding labour was to plant

some cedars along the usual landing-places, to which we might

fasten our vessels.

We employed six whole weeks in effecting what for the present

it was possible to effect, of these laborious arrangements; but

the continual exercise of mind and body they imposed, visibly

contributed to the physical and moral health of the boys, and

to the support of cheerfulness and serenity in ourselves. The

more we embellished our abode by the work of our own hands, the

more it became dear to our hearts. The constant and strict observance

of the sabbath-day afforded such an interval of rest, as could

not fail to restore our strength; and inspire us with the desire

of new exertions. The sentiment of gratitude which filled our

minds towards the Supreme Being, who had saved us from destruction

and supplied us with all things needful, demanded utterance,

and on Sundays we might allow ourselves the indulgence of pouring

out our hearts in thankfulness. Thus our religious exercises,

succeeded by gymnastic recreations, and these again by pleasing

rambles near Falcon’s Stream, during which I did not fail to

inculcate some moral truth, served to increase at once, our

usefulness and our happiness. It was deserving of remark, that though

the boys had been employed in severe labour through the week, yet

they were ever ready to encounter the climbing of trees, running

races, swimming, shooting with the bow and arrow, when Sunday

came; a proof that it is not so much inaction which renews the

strength, as a change of occupations.

But the repetition of these exercises wore out our clothes so

fast, that another trip to the vessel was absolutely necessary.

We had nearly exhausted the stock we had already brought away;

we were now absolutely in rags, and we feared we saw the time

when we should be compelled to renounce the European modes of

dress. I had also another reason; the cart I had just completed,

and with which at first I was quite enchanted on further acquaintance

disclosed a defect which it was scarcely possible to endure;

it was a violent creaking of the wheels at every turn, and in

addition the wheels moved so imperfectly round the axle-tree,

that the united strength of the ass and the cow could scarcely

drag the machine along. It was in vain that, in spite of my wife’s

reproofs, I applied a little butter now and then; in an hour

or two the butter was dried, and the wheels remained the same.

These two circumstances compelled us then once more to have recourse

to the vessel, which heaven and the waves had still preserved.

We knew there remained on board five or six chests containing

apparel, and we suspected there were also some tubs of pitch

and grease for wheels in her hold, which we should thus obtain.

To these motives were added, that of an earnest desire to take

another look at her, and, if practicable, to bring away a few

pieces of cannon which might be fixed on the new bastions at

Tent House, and thus we should be prepared for the worst.

The first fine day I assembled my three eldest sons, and put

my design into execution. We reached the wreck without any striking

adventure, and found her still fixed between the rocks, but somewhat

more shattered than when we had last seen her. We did not lose

a moment in searching for the tubs of pitch, which, with the

help of the pulley, we soon conveyed into the pinnace; we next

secured the chests of clothes, and whatever remained of ammunition

stores; powder, shot, and even such pieces of cannon as we could

remove, while those that were too heavy, we stripped of their

wheels, which might be extremely useful.

But to effect our purpose, it was necessary to spend several

days in visits to the vessel, returning constantly in the evening,

enriched with every thing of a portable nature which the wreck

contained; doors, windows, locks, bolts, nothing escaped our

grasp: so that the ship was now entirely emptied, with the exception

of the heavy cannon and three or four immense copper caldrons,

which were too heavy to be got into the boat. We by degrees contrived

to tie these heavy articles to two or three empty casks well

pitched, which would effectually sustain themselves and the cannon

above water. When these measures were taken, I came to the resolution

of blowing up the wreck by a process similar to that with which

I had so well succeeded with the pinnace. I directed my views

to that part of the vessel which had been entirely stripped of

every thing; I supposed that the wind and tide would convey the

beams and timbers ashore, and thus with little pains we should

be possessed of a sufficient quantity of materials for erecting

a building at some future time.

We accordingly prepared a cask of gunpowder, which we left on

board for the purpose: we rolled it to the place most favourable

for our views: we made a small opening in its side, and at the

moment of quitting the vessel, we inserted a piece of match-wood

which we lighted at the last moment, as before. We then sailed

with all possible expedition for Safety Bay, where we arrived

in a short time. We could not, however, withdraw our thoughts

from the wreck and from the expected explosion for a single moment.

I had cut the match a sufficient length for us to hope that she

would not go to pieces before dark. I proposed to my wife to

have our supper carried to a little point of land from whence

we had a view of her, and here we waited for the moment of her

destruction with lively impatience.

About the time of night-fall, a majestic rolling sound like thunder,

accompanied by a column of fire and smoke, announced that the

ship, so awfully concerned with our peculiar destiny, which had

brought us to our present abode in a desert, and furnished us

there with such vast supplies for general comfort, was that instant

annihilated, and withdrawn for ever from the face of man!—At

this moment, love for the country that gave us birth, that most

powerful sentiment of the human heart, sunk with a new force

into ours. The ship had disappeared for ever! Could we then form

a hope ever to behold that country more! We had made a sort of

jubilee of witnessing the spectacle; the boys had clapped their

hands and skipped about in joyful expectation; but the noise

was heard;—the smoke and sparks were seen while the sudden change

which took place in our minds could be compared only to the rapidity

of these effects of our concerted scheme against the vessel.

We all observed a mournful silence, and all rose, as it were,

by an impulse of mutual condemnation, and with our heads sinking

on our bosoms, and our eyes cast upon the ground, we took the

road to Tent House.

My wife was the only person who was sensible of motives for consolation

in the distressing scene which had been passing; she was now

relieved from all the cruel fears for our safety in our visits

to a shattered wreck, that was liable to fall to pieces during

the time we were on board. From this moment she conceived a stronger

partiality for our island, and the modes of life we had adopted.

A night’s repose had in some measure relieved the melancholy

of the preceding evening, and I went rather early in the morning

with the boys, to make further observations as to the effects

of this remarkable event. We perceived in the water, and along

the shore, abundant vestiges of the departed wreck, and among

the rest, at a certain distance, the empty casks, caldrons, and

cannon, all tied together, and floating in a large mass upon

the water. We jumped instantly into the pinnace, with the tub-boat

fastened to it, and made a way towards them through the numberless

pieces of timber, &c., that intervened, and in a little time

reached the object of our search, which from its great weight

moved slowly upon the waves. Fritz with his accustomed readiness

flung some rope round two four-pounders, and contrived to fasten

them to our barge, after which he secured also an enormous quantity

of poles, laths, and other useful articles. With this rich booty

we returned to land.

We performed three more trips for the purpose of bringing away

more cannon, caldrons, fragments of masts, &c., all of which

we deposited for present convenience in Safety Bay: and now began

our most fatiguing operations, the removing such numerous and

heavy stores from the boats to Tent House. We separated the cannon

and the caldrons from the tub-raft, and from each other, and

left them in a place which was accessible for the sledge and

the beasts of burden. With the help of the crow we succeeded

in getting the caldrons upon the sledge, and in replacing the

four wheels we had before taken from the cannon; and now found

it easy to make the cow and the ass draw them. We in the same

manner conveyed away all the pieces of wood we wished to preserve

dry, and what stores remained, we tied with cords to stakes along

the shore, to protect them from the tide.

The largest of the boilers or copper caldrons, which had been

intended as principal utensils for a proposed manufactory of

sugar, we now found of the most essential use. We brought out

all our barrels of gunpowder, and placed them on their ends in

three separate groups, at a short distance from our tent; we

dug a little ditch round the whole, to draw off the moisture

from the ground, and then put one of the caldrons turned upside down

upon each, which completely answered the purpose of an out-house.

The cannon were covered with sail-cloth, and upon this we laid

heavy branches of trees; the larger casks of gunpowder we prudently

removed under a projecting piece of rock, where, should they

even blow up, no mischief could arise to the inhabitants of Tent

House: these we covered with planks, till we should have leisure

for executing the plan of an ammunition storehouse, about which

we had all become extremely earnest.

My wife, in taking a survey of these our labours, made the agreeable

discovery that two of our ducks and one of the geese had been

brooding under a large bush, and at the time were conducting

their little families to the water. The news produced general

rejoicings; Fritz and Ernest looked forward to some luxurious

Sunday-dinners, and Jack and Francis wondered what the young

birds could think, when they first saw any human creatures! We in

a short time found means to tame them, by throwing them occasionally

some crumbs of manioc. This last employment, together with the

gambols of the little creatures, so forcibly carried our thoughts

to Falcon’s Stream, that we all conceived the ardent desire of

returning to the society of the numerous old friends we had left

there. One sighed for his monkey, another for his flamingo; Francis

for his parrot, and his mother for her poultry-yard, her various

housewifery accommodations, and her comfortable bed. We therefore

fixed the next day for our departure, and set about the necessary

preparations.