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Crusoe conferring with the Spaniard
Justyne, Leitch, Macquoid, Morgan, Pasquier, & Thomas
Engraver: W. J. Linton
1863-64
Wood-engraving
16 cm high by 14.2 cm wide, framed.
Cassell's Robinson Crusoe, page 161.
[Click on image to enlarge it and mouse over text for links.]
Scanned image and text by Philip V. Allingham.
[The Spaniard] answered, with a great deal of candour and ingenuousness, that their condition was so miserable, and that they were so sensible of it, that he believed they would abhor the thought of using any man unkindly that should contribute to their deliverance; and that, if I pleased, he would go to them with the old man, and discourse with them about it, and return again and bring me their answer; that he would make conditions with them upon their solemn oath, that they should be absolutely under my direction as their commander and captain; and they should swear upon the holy sacraments and gospel to be true to me, and go to such Christian country as I should agree to, and no other; and to be directed wholly and absolutely by my orders till they were landed safely in such country as I intended, and that he would bring a contract from them, under their hands, for that purpose. Then he told me he would first swear to me himself that he would never stir from me as long as he lived till I gave him orders; and that he would take my side to the last drop of his blood, if there should happen the least breach of faith among his countrymen. He told me they were all of them very civil, honest men, and they were under the greatest distress imaginable, having neither weapons nor clothes, nor any food, but at the mercy and discretion of the savages; out of all hopes of ever returning to their own country; and that he was sure, if I would undertake their relief, they would live and die by me. [Chapter XVII, "The Visit of the Mutineers," pp. 164-66]
In his discussion with the freed Spanish captive Crusoe learns that there are sixteen more European survivors (Spanish and Portuguese) from a shipwreck on the cannibal coast. These comrades, the Spaniard explains, are neither able to defend themselves nor escape by boat, and consequently live in constant jeopardy of being captured and devoured.
The running head, "Crusoe Converses with His Subjects" (p. 163), reminds readers that there is another "new subject," namely Friday's father, whose perspective about the escaped cannibals Crusoe finds reassuring. Friday's father feels that they will not have been able to survive the recent storm on their homeward voyage, but that, if they are so fortunate as to return to their own people, their account will not likely threaten Crusoe:
His first opinion was, that the savages in the boat never could live out the storm which blew that night they went off, but must of necessity be drowned, or driven south to those other shores, where they were as sure to be devoured as they were to be drowned if they were cast away; but, as to what they would do if they came safe on shore, he said he knew not; but it was his opinion that they were so dreadfully frightened with the manner of their being attacked, the noise, and the fire, that he believed they would tell the people they were all killed by thunder and lightning, not by the hand of man; and that the two which appeared — viz. Friday and I — were two heavenly spirits, or furies, come down to destroy them, and not men with weapons. This, he said, he knew; because he heard them all cry out so, in their language, one to another; for it was impossible for them to conceive that a man could dart fire, and speak thunder, and kill at a distance, without lifting up the hand, as was done now: and this old savage was in the right; for, as I understood since, by other hands, the savages never attempted to go over to the island afterwards, they were so terrified with the accounts given by those four men (for it seems they did escape the sea), that they believed whoever went to that enchanted island would be destroyed with fire from the gods. This, however, I knew not; and therefore was under continual apprehensions for a good while, and kept always upon my guard, with all my army: for, as there were now four of us, I would have ventured upon a hundred of them, fairly in the open field, at any time. [Chapter XVI, "Rescue of the Prisoners from the Cannibals," pp. 163-64]
The reunion of Friday and his father would have been a far more animated and heart-warming illustration, but Crusoe's conversation with the Spaniard compels the reader to attend to the plot, whose trajectory must now include returning Crusoe to Europe. Despite his ordeal, the former prisoner is well dressed, with a linen short, silk waistcoat, untattered breeches, hose, and pumps, all contrasting Crusoe's island dress of goatskin breeches and animal-hide buskins. The conference apparently occurs in Crusoe's cave, with the now-familiar table and chair (rendered here as a stool), and a rustic shelf just above Crusoe's head.
Above: Phiz's realisation of the dramatic release of the Cannibals' prisoner, Robinson Crusoe rescues the Spaniard (1864). [Click on the image to enlarge it.]
Left: The original Stothard copper-plate engraving in which Crusoe welcomes both former captives, the Spaniard and Friday's father (1790), Robinson Crusoe builds a tent for Friday's father and the Spaniard. Right: Colourful realisation of the happy reunion of Friday and his father on the beach after Crusoe's rescue of the Eurpean captive, Friday and his Father, (1818). Right: Sir John Gilbert's emphasis on Crusoe as a saviour rather than a Soldier of Empire is evident in Robinson Crusoe rescues the Spaniard (1860s). [Click on the images to enlarge them.]
Defoe, Daniel. The Life and Strange Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe Of York, Mariner. As Related by himself. With upwards of One Hundred Illustrations. London: Cassell, Petter, and Galpin, 1863-64.
Last modified 19 March 2018