Thus entered into as strange a scene of life as ever any man was in, I had most melancholy apprehensions concerning my deplorable condition:  and many times the tears would plentifully run down my face, when I considered how I was debarred from all communications with human kind.  Yet while these disponding cogitations would seem to make me accuse Providence, other good thoughts would interpose and reprove me after this manner:  Well, supposing you are desolate, it is not better to be so than totally perish?  Why, were you singled out to be saved and the rest destroyed?  Why should you complain, when not only your life is preserved, but the ship driven into your reach, in order to take what was necessary out of her for your subsistence?  But to proceed, it was, by the account I kept, the 30th of September, when I first landed on this island.  About twelve days after, fearing lest I should lose my reckoning of time, nay, even forget the Sabbath days, for want of pen, ink, and paper, I carved with a knife upon a large post, in great letters; and set it up:  in the similitude of a cross, on the seashore where I landed, I CAME ON SHORE, Sept. 30 1659.  Every day I cut a notch with my knife on the sides of the square post, and this on the Sabbath was as long again as the rest; and every first day of the month as long again as that long one.  In this manner I kept my calendar, weekly, monthly or yearly reckoning of time.  But had I made a more strict search (as afterwards I did) I needed not have set up this mark; for among the parcels belonging to the gunner, carpenter, and captain’s mate, I found those very things I wanted; particularly pens, ink, and paper.  So I found two or three compasses, some mathematical instruments, dials, perspective glasses, books of navigation, three English Bibles, and several other good books, which I carefully put up.—­Here I cannot but call to mind our having a dog and two cats on board, whom I made inhabitants with me in my castle.  Though one might think I had all the necessities that were desirable, yet still I found several things wanting.  My ink was daily wasting; I wanted needles, pins, and thread to mend or keep my clothes together; and particularly a spade, pickax, or shovel, to remove the earth.  It was a year before I finished my little bulwark; and having some intervals of relaxation, after my daily wandering abroad for provision, I drew up this plan, alternately, as creditor and debtor, to remind me of the miseries and blessings of my life, under so many various circumstances.

E V I L

I am cast upon a desolate island, having no hopes, no prospects of a welcome deliverance.

Thus miserably am I singled out from the enjoyment or company of all mankind.

Like an hermit (rather should I say a lonely anchorite) am I forced from human conversation.

My clothes after some time will be worn out; and then I shall have none to cover me.