the current ran with
the same force against the shore at the east as it passed by it on the
other, I might run the same risk of being driven down the stream, and
carried by the island, as I had been before of being carried away from
it: so with these thoughts, I contented myself to be without any boat,
though it had been the product of so many months' labour to make it, and
of so many more to get it into the sea.

In this government of my temper I remained near a year; and lived a very
sedate, retired life, as you may well suppose; and my thoughts being very
much composed as to my condition, and fully comforted in resigning myself
to the dispositions of Providence, I thought I lived really very happily
in all things except that of society.

I improved myself in this time in all the mechanic exercises which my
necessities put me upon applying myself to; and I believe I should, upon
occasion, have made a very good carpenter, especially considering how few
tools I had.

Besides this, I arrived at an unexpected perfection in my earthenware,
and contrived well enough to make them with a wheel, which I found
infinitely easier and better; because I made things round and shaped,
which before were filthy things indeed to look on. But I think I was
never more vain of my own performance, or more joyful for anything I
found out, than for my being able to make a tobacco-pipe; and though it
was a very ugly, clumsy thing when it was done, and only burned red, like
other earthenware, yet as it was hard and firm, and would draw the smoke,
I was exceedingly comforted with it, for I had been always used to smoke;
and there were pipes in the ship, but I forgot them at first, not
thinking there was tobacco in the island; and afterwards, when I searched
the ship again, I could not come at any pipes.

In my wicker-ware also I improved much, and made abundance of necessary
baskets, as well as my invention showed me; though not very handsome, yet
they were such as were very handy and convenient for laying things up in,
or fetching things home. For example, if I killed a goat abroad, I could
hang it up in a tree, flay it, dress it, and cut it in pieces, and bring
it home in a basket; and the like by a turtle; I could cut it up, take
out the eggs and a piece or two of the flesh, which was enough for me,
and bring them home in a basket, and leave the rest behind me. Also,
large deep baskets were the receivers of my corn, which I always rubb