90 CRtJSOE^S ISLA^TD. 



into a canvas shot bag and pounding it with the head 

 of an axe. 



By the time all these processes were performed I 

 had a most vivid impression of the difficulties in the 

 way of an isolated existence, and realized the ad- 

 vantages of cooperation as experienced in civilized 

 life in communities. But I did not repine ; far from 

 it. I enjoyed as never before my cups of coffee and 

 of chocolate, having extracted them from the very 

 vitals of earth. It was indeed " theobroma " — nectar 

 such as the gods delight in — and I thrived on it. 



This much with reference to my beverages — cocoa- 

 nut water direct from the tree every morning, coffee 

 and chocolate from my private groves, and a stream 

 of "Adam's ale" at my very door. 



Tobacco I also found growing wild, as Crusoe did. 

 I say growing wild, but it had probably been culti- 

 vated here at some former period. This plant was 

 discovered by Columbus in the West Indies, and the 

 first sent from here to England direct came from the 

 near island of Trinidad, probably being sent home or 

 carried there by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1585. 



Hence the tobacco is at home in Tobago, and 

 Crusoe doubtless did find it growing here if he looked 

 about him with attention. He says he did, for " I 

 searched for the Cassava Boot, which the Indians in 

 all that Climate make their Bread of, but I could find 

 none. I saw large Plants of Aloes, but did not then 

 understand them; and I saw several Sugar Canes, 

 but wild and for want of cultivation imperfect." 



Perhaps one of my most important finds was the 



