My raft went very well for about a mile, and with it I entered a creek
1820
Wood-block engraving
8 cm high by 5.8 cm wide, framed
Source: Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe, facing page 20 [Plate 3].
[Click on image to enlarge it.]
Scanned image and text by Philip V. Allingham.
My raft was now strong enough to bear any reasonable weight. My next care was what to load it with, and how to preserve what I laid upon it from the surf of the sea; but I was not long considering this. I first laid all the plank or boards upon it that I could get, and having considered well what I most wanted, I first got three of the seamen's chests, which I had broken open and emptied, and lowered them down upon my raft; the first of these I filled with provisions, viz. bread, rice, three Dutch cheeses, five pieces of dried goat's flesh (which we lived much upon), and a little remainder of European corn, which had been laid by for some fowls which we brought to sea with us, but the fowls were killed. There had been some barley and wheat together; but, to my great disappointment, I found afterwards that the rats had eaten or spoiled it all. As for liquors, I found several, cases of bottles belonging to our skipper, in which were some cordial waters; and, in all, about five or six gallons of rack. These I stowed by themselves, there being no need to put them into the chest, nor any room for them. While I was doing this, I found the tide begin to flow, though very calm; and I had the mortification to see my coat, shirt, and waistcoat, which I had left on the shore, upon the sand, swim away. As for my breeches, which were only linen, and open-knee'd, I swam on board in them and my stockings. However, this set me on rummaging for clothes, of which I found enough, but took no more than I wanted for present use, for I had others things which my eye was more upon; as, first, tools to work with on shore: and it was after long searching that I found out the carpenter's chest, which was, indeed, a very useful prize to me, and much more valuable than a shipload of gold would have been at that time. I got it down to my raft, even whole as it was, without losing time to look into it, for I knew in general what it contained. [Chapter IV, "First Few Weeks on the Island"]
. . . ship's side, and going down to them, tied them together, and made a raft, placing several pieces of plank upon them cross ways; after which I laid up all the pieces of board that came to hand. I next broke open and emptied three of the seamen's chests, lowered them down upon the raft, and filled them with bread, some dried goat's flesh, and three Dutch cheeses. I found several cases of bottles, in which were some cordial waters, and five or six gallons of arrack; these I stowed by themselves not having room for these in the chests; I likewise let down the carpenter's chest, which was worth more than a ship load of gold to me. I next found two good fowling pieces, two pistols, with some powder horns, two barrels of powder, and two rusty old swords, all of which I placed on the raft, and with this invaluable cargo I resolved to put to sea, without either sails, oars, or rudder; but the tide was now rising, and set in for the shore, and the little wind there was, blew towards land; besides, I found two or three broken oars that belonged to the boat, which served me to push the raft along.
My raft went very well for about a mile, and with it I entered a creek; but after having several times narrowly escaped oversetting it, I pushed it on a flat piece of ground, over which the tide flowed, and with my broken oars fastened it to the ground. Thus I remained till the water ebbed when I placed my cargo safe on land. [page 27]
Left: Stothard's 1790 atmospheric realisation of the same episode, Robinson Crusoe upon the raft (copper-plate engraving, Chapter IV, "First Weeks on the Island"). Centre: Cruikshank's woodblock engraving of a casual young Crusoe, very much in charge of salvaging operations, Crusoe salvaging cargo from the shipwreck (1831). Right: Cassell's realisation of the same scene, Crusoe loading his raft (1863-64). [Click on the images to enlarge them.]
Many thanks for the assistance of the staff at Special Collections and University Archives, particularly John Frederick, Library Assistant, McPherson Library, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Defoe, Daniel. (adapted). The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, Who Resided On an Uninhabited Island upwards of Twenty Eight Years. Embellished with Engravings on Wood. London: R. Harrild, Great Eastcheap, 1820.
Last modified 17 February 2018
