pprehensions were buried in the thoughts of such a pitch of inhuman,
hellish brutality, and the horror of the degeneracy of human nature,
which, though I had heard of it often, yet I never had so near a view of
before; in short, I turned away my face from the horrid spectacle; my
stomach grew sick, and I was just at the point of fainting, when nature
discharged the disorder from my stomach; and having vomited with uncommon
violence, I was a little relieved, but could not bear to stay in the
place a moment; so I got up the hill again with all the speed I could,
and walked on towards my own habitation.

When I came a little out of that part of the island I stood still awhile,
as amazed, and then, recovering myself, I looked up with the utmost
affection of my soul, and, with a flood of tears in my eyes, gave God
thanks, that had cast my first lot in a part of the world where I was
distinguished from such dreadful creatures as these; and that, though I
had esteemed my present condition very miserable, had yet given me so
many comforts in it that I had still more to give thanks for than to
complain of: and this, above all, that I had, even in this miserable
condition, been comforted with the knowledge of Himself, and the hope of
His blessing: which was a felicity more than sufficiently equivalent to
all the misery which I had suffered, or could suffer.

In this frame of thankfulness I went home to my castle, and began to be
much easier now, as to the safety of my circumstances, than ever I was
before: for I observed that these wretches never came to this island in
search of what they could get; perhaps not seeking, not wanting, or not
expecting anything here; and having often, no doubt, been up the covered,
woody part of it without finding anything to their purpose. I knew I had
been here now almost eighteen years, and never saw the least footsteps of
human creature there before; and I might be eighteen years more as
entirely concealed as I was now, if I did not discover myself to them,
which I had no manner of occasion to do; it being my only business to
keep myself entirely concealed where I was, unless I found a better sort
of creatures than cannibals to make myself known to. Yet I entertained
such an abhorrence of the savage wretches that I have been speaking of,
and of the wretched, inhuman custom of their devouring and eating one
another up, that I continued pensive and sad, and kept close within my
own circle for al