[196]
In this Frame of Thankfulness, I went Home to my Castle, and began to be much easier now, as to the Safety of my Circumstances, than ever I was before; for I observ'd that these Wretches never came to this Island in search of what they could get; perhaps not seeking, not wanting, or not expecting any Thing here; and having often, no doubt, been up in the covered woody Part of it, without finding any Thing to their Purpose. I knew I had been here now almost eighteen Years, and never saw the least Foot-steps of humane Creature there before; and I might be here eighteen more as entirely conceal'd as I was now, if I did not discover my self to them, which I had no manner of Occasion to do, it being my only Business to keep my self entirely concealed where I was, unless I found a better sort of Creatures than Canibals to make my self known to.
Yet I entertained such an Abhorrence of the Savage Wretches, that I have been speaking of, and of the wretched inhumane Custom of their devouring and eating one another up, that I continu'd pensive, and sad, and kept close within my own Circle for almost two Years after this: When I say my own Circle, I mean by it, my three Plantations, viz. my Castle, my Country Seat, which I call'd my Bower, and my Enclosure in the Woods; nor did I look after this for any other Use than as an Enclosure for my Goats; for the Aversion which Nature gave me to these hellish Wretches was such, that I was fearful of seeing them, as of seeing the Devil himself; nor did I so much as go to look after my Boat in all this time; but began rather to think of making me another; for I could not think of ever making any more Attempts, to bring the other Boat round the Island to me, lest I should meet with some of these Creatures at Sea,in
