Robinson Crusoe – Builds a boat-Part-7

Robinson Crusoe Part-1, Part-2, Part-3, Part-4, Part-5, Part-6

By the time Robinson had made 365 notches into his calendar post. He now had experienced when the winter and rainy seasons would come. It was not winter and summer with autumn and spring on the island as in England. But expecting the rains, Robinson stored his supplies to protect them from water. In this way he lived on the island happily. He had same work to do every day. Every morning, he used to go out with his gun. Every year, he used to plant his crops. There was no human on the island with whom he could talk, except his pet dog. The parrot, which he had, entertained him a lot but it was not enough, he now started to feel strong desire for human company. 

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During his second year, he had many trips on the island itself. During one trip, he found and climbed on the highest hill so far. The day was very clear when he was on the top of the hills; he could see a land to the west, about forty miles away. The land could be another island or deserted like his island or it could also have no human there. 

Robison didn’t know whether the island had any civilized people or wild ones. When he used to live on his plantation in Brazil, he had learnt about the uncivilized people who used to live in this part of the world. It was said that they used to eat human flesh. He used to eat the enemies very quickly as if they were hungry for many years. Robinson was lucky as no such uncivilized people were living on his island.     

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Robinson could also see two or three island from the top of the hill. These lands were located about eight to ten miles away. Robinson thought if he could be able to reach there, he could probably find some ways of escaping. But it was only possible, if he had a boat. Unfortunately he had no boat. To reach on those islands he had to make a new boat which was very difficult task for him. He then decided to make a boat out of the trunk of a tree. He had information that once Red Indians made their boat in this way. He cut away the branches of a large cedar tree and shaped its bottom so that it could float on the water. He took almost five months to make the boat. Finally it was ready to float. 

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Unfortunately, all his hard work was wasted because the boat was too heavy to move near the water. It could carry twenty people at once. But it was too far from the water and Robinson could not move it alone. There was no one to help him. Yet he thought he would anyway bring the water up to the boat, but it would take ten or twelve years more to make a canal for the water.  So, lastly, though he was very sad, he gave up the idea of digging the canal. He then made a small boat so that he could easily move it to the water. Although the boat was too small for a sea voyage, he could certainly have some trips around the island. He fitted a little pole to his boat with a sail made using the pieces of the ship’s sails.  He then made two little boxes and fitted each at both ends so that he could keep his things in. he also made a place on the boat where he could hang his gun over there.

Robinson fixed his umbrella to the pole so that it could work like a canvas and protect him from the rain and sun. Occasionally, he had some voyage to the sea, but never went out too far. He then decided to make a long journey to the sea. He loaded two dozen loaves of bread, a lot of meat, a pot full of rice and plenty of gunpowder in his boat and started to voyage on 6th November. It was sixth year he was staying on the island. 

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Robinson thought he could sail around the island, but a long line of rocks stopped him doing so. He could not find the way to go any further west so he stopped the boat near the beach and tied it up there.  Finally, he was able to find a way out through the long line of rocks, and he began to sail through it but his boat trapped in a strong current of water. Although he was a good sailor and tried a lot to save his boat from the pull of the current, he was moved away from his destination. He had lost his control and could not row against the strong current. Unfortunately he had forgotten to carry his compass and started to think of his island as the best place on earth. He now was worried to think of how he could go back on his island. In the noon, however, a gentle wind started to blow from the opposite side and moved him away from the strong current. He set up his mast and sail and began to voyage towards his island. Though it was too far, he could see the northern part of the island and after a few hours of voyage he could safely reach on his island. 

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He stayed there for a few hours. After eating and resting, he began to move towards his own side of the island. He wanted no more risk sailing with the small boat, so he tied up the boat securely there, and moved towards his home on foot. He was not willing to leave his boat there, but he wanted no more adventures and danger. He took only his gun and started to move along the beach towards his home.

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