Nov. 7.
Now it began to be settled fair weather. The 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and part of the 12th (for the 11th was Sunday, according to my reckoning) I took wholly up to make me a chair, and with much ado, brought it to a tolerable shape, but never to please me. Even in the making, I pulled it in pieces several times.
Note. I soon neglected my keeping Sundays, for, omitting my mark for them on my post, I forgot which was which.
Nov. 13.
This day it rained, which refreshed me exceedingly and cooled the earth. But it was accompanied with terrible thunder and lightning, which frightened me dreadfully, for fear of my powder. As soon as it was over, I resolv’d to separate my stock of powder into as many little parcels as possible, that it might not be in danger.
Nov. 14, 15, 16.
These three days I spent in making little square chests or boxes, which might hold about a pound, or two pounds at most, of powder. Putting the powder in, I stowed it in places as secure and as remote from one another as possible. On one of these three days I killed a large bird that was good to eat, but I knew not what to call it.
Nov. 17.
This day I began to dig behind my tent, into the rock, to make room for my farther convenience.
Note. Three things I wanted exceedingly for this work, viz. a pick-axe, a shovel, and a wheel-barrow, or basket; so I desisted from my work, and began to consider how to supply these wants, and make me some tools. As for a pick-axe, I made use of the iron crows, which were proper enough, tho’ heavy. The next thing was a shovel or spade. This was so necessary I could do nothing effectually without it, but what kind of one to make I knew not.
Nov. 18.
The next day, in searching the woods, I found a tree of that wood, or like it, which, in the Brasils, they call the iron tree, from its exceeding hardness. Of this, with great labour and almost spoiling my axe, I cut a piece and brought it home, too, with difficulty enough, for it was exceeding heavy. The excessive hardness of the wood, and my having no other way, made me a long while upon this machine. I worked it by little and little into the form of a spade, the handle shaped like ours in England. Only the broad part having no iron shod upon it at bottom, it would not last me so long. However, it served well enough for the uses which I had occasion to put it to. Never was a shovel, I believe, made after that fashion, or so long a-making.
I was still deficient, for I wanted a basket or a wheel-barrow. A basket I could not make by any means, having no such things as twigs that would bend to make wicker-ware, at least, none yet found out. As to the wheel-barrow, I fancied I could make all but the wheel, but that I had no notion of, neither did I know how to go about it. Besides, I had no possible way to make iron gudgeons for the spindle or axis of the wheel to run in. So I gave it over. For carrying away the earth which I dug out of the cave, I made me a thing like a hod, which the labourers carry mortar in for the brick-layers. This was not so difficult to me as making the shovel. Yet this and the shovel, and the attempt which I made in vain to make a wheel-barrow, took me up no less than four days. I mean, always excepting my morning walk with my gun, which I seldom omitted, and very seldom failed also bringing home something fit to eat.
Nov. 23.
My other work having now stood still, because of my making these tools, when they were finished I went on. Working every day, as my strength and time allowed, I spent eighteen days in widening and deepening my cave, that it might hold my goods commodiously.
Note. During all this time, I worked to make this room, or cave, spacious enough to accommodate me as a warehouse or magazine, a kitchen, a dining-room, and a cellar. As for a lodging, I kept to the tent. Except sometimes in the wet season of the year it rained so hard I could not keep myself dry, which caused me afterwards to cover all my place within my pale with long poles, in the form of rafters, leaning against the rock, and load them with flags and large leaves of trees like a thatch.
Nov. 27th
Being the first night of the moon, I did let the beast wander free outside the pale. It has taken to running the forest and hunting the small things like hares I did see upon my arrival. This first night it kill'd three of them and ate them entirely.
Nov. 29th
Was not able to work this day, as the beast left me so far from my new home in the morning it took much of the day to return. Was badly burn'd by the sun in the hours I spent walking.