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.