the _Roe_ began to putrifie, and
emit Noisome Vapours, which still increas'd his aversion to it, so that
he did not care to see it. 'Twas not long after that he chanc'd to see
two Ravens engag'd so furiously; that one of them struck down the other
Stark Dead; and when he had done, he began to scrape with his Claws till
he had digg'd a Pit, in which he Buried the Carcass of his Adversary.
Our Philosopher observing this, said to himself, _How well has this
Raven done in Burying the Body of his Companion, tho' he did ill in
Killing him? How much greater reason was there for me to have been
forward in performing this Office to my Mother?_ Upon this he makes a
Grave, and lays his Mother into it, and Buries her. He proceeded in his
Enquiry concerning what that should be by which the Body was govern'd,
but could not Apprehend what it was; when he look'd upon the rest of the
Roes, and perceiv'd that they were of the same form and figure with his
Mother, he believ'd that there was in every one of them something which
govern'd and actuated them, like that which had actuated and govern'd
his Mother: formerly: and for the sake of that likeness he us'd to keep
in their Company, and shew affection towards them. He continued a while
in this condition, Contemplating the various kinds of Animals and
Plants, and walking about the Coast of his Island, to see if he could
find any thing like himself; (as he observ'd that every Individual
Animal, and Plant, had a great many more like it.) But all his search
was in vain. And when he perceiv'd that his Island was encompass'd by
the Sea, he thought that there was no other Land in the World but only
that Island.

Sec. 23. It happen'd that by Collision a Fire was kindled among a parcel of
Reeds or Canes; which fear'd him at first, as being a Sight which he was
altogether a Stranger to; so that he stood at a distance a good while,
strangely surpriz'd, at last he came nearer and nearer by degrees, still
observing the Brightness of its Light and marvellous Efficacy in
consuming every thing it touch'd, and changing it into its own Nature;
till at last, his Admiration of it, and that innate Boldness and
Fortitude, which God had implanted in his Nature prompted him on, that
he ventur'd to come near it, and stretch'd out his Hand to take some of
it. But when it burnt his Fingers and he found there was no dealing with
it that way, he endeavour'd to take a stick, which the Fire had not as
yet wholly seiz