Робінзон Крузо
Finds Print of Man’s Foot on the Sand
andunderthisIhadmademeasquaborcouch,withtheskinsofthecreaturesIhadkilled,andwithothersoftthings,andablanketlaidonthem,suchasbelongedtooursea-bedding,whichIhadsaved,andagreatwatch-coattocoverme; andhere,wheneverIhadoccasiontobeabsentfrommychiefseat,Itookupmycountryhabitation.
AdjoiningtothisIhadmyenclosureformycattle,thatistosay,mygoats. AndasIhadtakenaninconceivabledealofpainstofenceandenclosethisground,soIwasuneasytoseeitkeptentire,lessthegoatsshouldbreakthrough,thatIneverleftofftill,withinfinitelabor,Ihadstrucktheoutsideofthehedgesofullofsmallstakes,andsoneartooneanother,thatitwasratherapalethanahedge,andtherewasscarceroomtoputahandthroughthem; whichafterwards,whenthosestakesgrew,astheyalldidinthenextrainyseason,madetheenclosurestronglikeawall,indeed,strongerthananywall.
ThiswilltestifyformethatIwasnotidle,andthatIsparednopainstobringtopasswhateverappearednecessaryformycomfortablesupport; forIconsideredthekeepingupabreedoftamecreaturesthusatmyhandwouldbealivingmagazineofflesh,milk,butter,andcheeseformeaslongasIlivedintheplace,ifitweretobefortyyears; andthatkeepingtheminmyreachdependedentirelyuponmyperfectingmyenclosurestosuchadegreethatImightbesureofkeepingthemtogether; which,bythismethod,indeed,Isoeffectuallysecuredthatwhentheselittlestakesbegantogrow,IhadplantedthemsoverythickIwasforcedtopullsomeofthemupagain.
InthisplacealsoIhadmygrapesgrowing,whichIprincipallydependedonformywinterstoreofraisins,andwhichIneverfailedtopreserveverycarefully,asthebestandmostagreeabledaintyofmywholediet. Andindeedtheywerenotagreeableonly,butphysical,wholesome,nourishing,andrefreshingtothelastdegree.