Робінзон Крузо
A Boat
Thissetmetostudyinghowtoordermyfire,soastomakeitburnmesomepots. Ihadnonotionofakiln,suchasthepottersburnin,orofglazingthemwithlead,thoughIhadsomeleadtodoitwith; butIplacedthreelargepigskins,andtwoorthreepotsinapile,oneuponanother,andplacedmyfirewoodallroundit,withagreatheapofembersunderthem. Ipliedthefirewithfreshfuelroundtheoutside,anduponthetop,tillIsawthepotsintheinsidere-hotquitethrough,andobservedthattheydidnotcrackatall. WhenIsawthemclearred,Iletthemstandinthatheataboutfiveorsixhours,tillIfoundoneofthem,thoughitdidnotcrack,didmeltorrun, forthesandwhichwasmixedwiththeclaymeltedbytheviolenceoftheheat,andwouldhaverunintoglass,ifIhadgoneon; soIslackedmyfiregraduallytillthepotsbegantoabateoftheredcolor; andwatchingthemallnight,thatImightnotletthefireabatetoofast,inthemorningIhadthreeverygood,Iwillnotsayhandsome,pigskins,andtwootherearthenpots,ashardburntascouldbedesired,andoneofthemperfectlyglazedwiththerunningofthesand.
Afterthisexperiment,IneednotsaythatIwantednosortofearthenwareformyuse; butImustneedssay,astotheshapesofthem,theywereveryindifferent,asanyonemaysuppose,whenIhadnowayofmakingthembutasthechildrenmakedirtpies,orasawomanwouldmakepiesthathadneverlearnedtoraisepaste.
Nojoyatathingofsomeananaturewaseverequaltomine,whenIfoundIhadmadeanearthenpotthatwouldbearthefire; andIhadhardlypatiencetostaytilltheywerecold,beforeIsetoneuponthefireagain,withsomewaterinit,toboilmesomemeat,whichitdidadmirablywell; andwithapieceofakidImadesomeverygoodbroth,thoughIwantedoatmealandseveralotheringredientsrequisitetomakeitsogoodasIwouldhavehaditbeen.
