wo or three seals, which,
while I was gazing at, not well knowing what they were, got into the sea,
and escaped me for that time.

_Nov._ 6.--After my morning walk I went to work with my table again, and
finished it, though not to my liking; nor was it long before I learned to
mend it.

_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) I took wholly up to
make me a chair, and with much ado brought it to a tolerable shape, but
never to please me; and 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 resolved 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; and so, putting the powder in, I stowed it in places as secure
and 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 further conveniency.

_Note_.--Three things I wanted exceedingly for this work--viz. a pickaxe,
a shovel, and a wheelbarrow or basket; so I desisted from my work, and
began to consider how to supply that want, and make me some tools. As
for the pickaxe, I made use of the iron crows, which were proper enough,
though heavy; but the next thing was a shovel or spade; this was so
absolutely necessary, that, indeed, 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 Brazils they call the iron-tree, for 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, for I worked
it effectually by little and