A New Voyage Round the World by a Course Never Sailed BeforeDefoe, Daniel
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A New Voyage Round the World by a Course Never Sailed Before
Defoe, Daniel
Adventure stories; Voyages around the world -- Fiction
I take the more notice of these people's not having conversed, as I say,
with the world, because of the innocence of their behaviour, their
peaceable disposition, and their way of living upon the fruits and
produce of the earth; also their cultivation, and the manner of their
habitations; no signs of rapine or violence appearing among them. Our
stay here was so little, that we could make no inquiry into their
religion, manner of government, and other customs; nor have I room to
crowd many of these things into this account. They went, indeed, as I
have said, naked, some of them stark naked, both men and women, but I
thought they differed in their countenances from all the wild people I
ever saw; that they had something singularly honest and sincere in their
faces, nor did we find anything of falsehood or treachery among them.
The gratitude they expressed for our kindly using the two young women I
have mentioned, was a token of generous principles; and our men told us,
that they would have given them whatever they could have asked, that was
in their power to bestow.
In a word, it was on their account they sent that little army of people
to us loaden with provisions, which our men met before the two shallops
came down. But all the provisions they had consisted chiefly in fruits
of the earth, cocoa-nuts, plantains, oranges, lemons, &c., and maize, or
Indian corn. We were not a sufficient time with them to inquire after
what traffick they had, or whether anything fit for us. They had several
fragrant plants, and some spices, particularly cinnamon, which we found,
but what else the country produced we knew not.
We came away from hence after seven days' stay, having observed little
of the country, more than that it seemed to be very pleasant, but very
hot; the woods were all flourishing and green and the soil rich, but
containing little that could be the subject of trade; but an excellent
place to be a baitland, or port of refreshment, in any voyage that might
afterwards be undertaken that way.
We set sail, I say, from hence in seven days, and, finding the coast lie
fairly on our starboard side, kept the land on board all the way,
distance about three leagues; and it held us thus, about a hundred and
twenty leagues due east, when on a sudden we lost sight of the land;
whether it broke off, or whether it only drew off farther south, we
could not tell.
We went on two or three days more, our course south-east, when we made
land again; but found it only to be two small islands, lying south and
by east, distance nine leagues. We stood on to them, and two of our
boats went on shore, but found nothing for our purpose; no inhabitants,
nor any living creatures, except sea fowls, and some large snakes;
neither was there any fresh water. So we called that land Cape Dismal.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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