November 14,15,16-These three days I spent in making little square chests or boxes,which might hold about a pound,or two pound at most,of powder;and so putting the powder in,I stowed it in places as secure and remote from one another as possible.On one of these three days I killed a large bird that was good to eat,but I know not what to call it.
November 17-This day I began to dig behind my tent into the rock,to make room for my farther conveniency.Note,three things I wanted exceedingly for this work,viz.,a pick axe,a shovel,and a wheelbarrow or basket;so I desisted from my work,and began to consider how to supply that want,and make me some tools.As for a pick axe,I made use of the iron crows,which were proper enough,though heavy;but the next thing was a shovel or spade.This was so absolutely necessary,that indeed I could do nothing effectually without it;but what kind of one to make，I knew not.
November 18-The next day,in searching the woods,I found a tree of that wood,or like it,which in the Brazils they call the iron tree,for its exceeding hardness;of this,with great labour,and almost spoiling my axe,I cut a piece,and brought it home,too,with difficulty enough,for it was exceeding heavy.
The excessive hardness of the wood,and having no other way,made me a long while upon this machine,for I worked it effectually,by little and little,into the form of a shovel or spade,the handle exactly shaped like ours in England,only that the broad part having no iron shod upon it at bottom,it would not last me so long.However,it served me well enough for the uses which I had occasion to put it to;but never was a shovel,I believe,made after that fashion,or so long a making.
I was still deficient,for I wanted a basket or a wheelbarrow.A basket I could not make by any means,having no such things as twigs that would bend to make wicker ware,at least none yet found out.And as to a wheelbarrow,I fancied I could make all but the wheel,but that I had no notion of,neither did I know how to go about it;besides,I had no possible way to make the iron gudgeons for the spindle or axis of the wheel to run in,so I gave it over;and so for carrying away the earth which I dug out of the cave,I made me a thing like a hod which the labourers carry mortar in,when they serve the bricklayers.
This was not so difficult to me as the making the shovel;and yet this,and the shovel,and the attempt which I made in vain to make a wheelbarrow,took me up no less than four days;I mean always,excepting my morning walk with my gun,which I seldom failed,and very seldom failed also bringing home something fit to eat.
November 23-My other work having now stood still because of my making these tools,when they were finished I went on,and working every day,as my strength and time allowed,I spent eighteen days entirely in widening and deepening my cave,that it might hold my goods commodiously.
Note.-During all this time I worked to make this room or cave spacious enough to accommodate me as a warehouse or magazine,a kitchen,a dining room,and a cellar;as for my lodging,I kept to the tent,except that sometimes in the wet season of the year it rained so hard,that I could not keep myself dry,which caused me afterwards to cover all my place within my pale with long poles,in the form of rafters,leaning against the rock,and load them with flags and large leaves of trees,like a thatch.
December 10-I began now to think my cave or vault finished,when on a sudden (it seems I had made it too large)a great quantity of earth fell down from the top and one side,so much,that,in short,it frighted me,and not without reason too;for if I had been under it,I had never wanted a grave digger.Upon this disaster I had a great deal of work to do over again;for I had the loose earth to carry out;and,which was of more importance,I had the ceiling to prop up,so that I might be sure no more would come down.
December 11-This day I went to work with it accordingly,and got two shores or posts pitched upright to the top,with two pieces of boards across over each post.This I finished the next day;and setting more posts up with boards,in about a week more I had the roof secured;and the posts standing in rows,served me for partitions to part of my house.
December 17-From this day to the twentieth I placed shelves,and knocked up nails on the posts to hang everything up that could be hung up;and now I began to be in some order within doors.
December 20-Now I carried everything into the cave,and began to furnish my house,and set up some pieces of boards,like a dresser,to order my victuals upon;but boards began to be very scarce with me;also I made me another table.
December 24-Much rain all night and all day;no stirring out.
December 25-Rain all day.
December 26-No rain,and the earth much cooler than before,and pleasanter.
December 27-Killed a young goat,and lamed another,so that I catched it,and led it home in a string.When I had it home,I bound and splintered up its leg,which was broke.N.B.-I took such care of it,that it lived;and the leg grew well and as strong as ever;but by my nursing it so long it grew tame,and fed upon the little green at my door,and would not go away.This was the first time that I entertained a thought of breeding up some tame creatures,that I might have food when my powder and shot was all spent.
December 28,29,30-Great heats and no breeze,so that there was no stirring abroad,except in the evening,for food.This time I spent in putting all my things in order within doors.
January 1-Very hot still,but I went abroad early and late with my gun,and lay still in the middle of the day.This evening,going farther into the valleys which lay towards the centre of the island,I found there was plenty of goats,though exceeding shy,and hard to come at.However,I resolved to try if I could not bring my dog to hunt them down.
