Робінзон Крузо
A Cave Retreat
andparticularly,Iobservedplacewheretherehadbeenafiremade,andacircledugintheearth,likeacockpit, whereitissupposedthesavagewretchessatdowntotheirinhumanfeastingsuponthebodiesoftheirfellow-creatures.
IwassoastonishedwiththesightofthesethingsthatIentertainednonotionofanydangertomyselffromitforalongwhile. Allmyapprehensionswereburiedinthethoughtsofsuchapitchofinhuman,hellishbrutality,andthehorrorofthedegeneracyofhumannaturewhich,thoughIhadheardofoften,yetIneverhadsonearaviewofbefore. Inshort,Iturnedawaymyfacefromthehorridspectacle. Mystomachgrewsick,andIwasjustatthepointoffainting,whenNaturedischargedthedisorderfrommystomach. Andhavingvomitedwithanuncommonviolence,Iwasalittlerelieved,butcouldnotbeartostayintheplaceamoment; soIgotmeupthehillagainwithallthespeedIcould,andwalkedontowardsmyownhabitation.
WhenIcamealittleoutofthatpartoftheisland,Istoodstillawhileasamazed; andthenrecoveringmyself,Ilookedupwiththeutmostaffectionofmysoul,andwithafloodoftearsinmyeyes,gaveGodthanks,thathadcastmyfirstlotinapartoftheworldwhereIwasdistinguishedfromsuchdreadfulcreaturesasthese; andthat,thoughIhadesteemedmypresentconditionverymiserable,hadyetgivenmesomanycomfortsinit,thatIhadstillmoretogivethanksforthantocomplainof;andthisisaboveall,thatIhad,eveninthismiserablecondition,beencomfortedwiththeknowledgeofHimself,andthehopeofHisblessing; whichwasafelicitymorethansufficientlyequivalenttoallthemiserywhichIhadsuffered,orcouldsuffer.
