Robinson Crusoe's dreadful experience in his last voyage to Guinea

 

Write about Robinson Crusoe's dreadful experience in his last voyage to Guinea.

 

Ans. Robinson Crusoe made some friends in Brazil. They were planters who proposed take a voyage to Guinea to bring Negro slaves for their plantation work. They offered Crusoe equal share of the Negroes without providing any part of the stock. Crusoe agreed to their proposal and told his fellow planters that he was ready to accompany them if they would look after his plantation in his absence. Crusoe's friends agreed and he put into writing how his properties should be distributed in case of his death in the sea.

 

The ship was fitted out and furnished enough. Crusoe went on board in an evil hour on the 1st of September 1659. It was incidentally the same day eight years ago when he had left his house and gone on a voyage from Hull against the wishes of his parents. The weather   was fine except that it was extremely hot. After twelve days at sea, a furious storm raged. They were tossed about at sea for twelve more days. They feared to be swallowed up by the sea any moment. One of their men died of fever and one boy was washed away. When the ship reached near the river Orinco in north Brazil, the ship started leaking. They changed their course and stepped away northwest in order to reach the English islands.

 

But a second storm came upon them and drove them out of the way of human commerce. Soon the ship struck upon a sand. The sea broke over her with such a fury that they feared they would perish. There was now for them no other alternative left but to lower a boat into the sea to get to the shore. Riding up the boat they left them to God's mercy and the wild sea. Though the storm had abated considerably, the sea went dreadfully high. The sailor worked at the oar towards the land with a heavy heart. As they made nearer and nearer the shore, the land looked more frightful than the sea. All on a sudden a mountain like wave came rolling. It took them with such a fury that it overset the boat at once. Crusoe fought bravely against the raging storms and the mountain high waves. He swam towards the shore, struggling every moment. Ultimately he got to the mainland, chambered up the shore and set down upon the grass. He was now out of the reach of water. He thanked God that his life was saved. He was overjoyed but suddenly his joys and sorrows confounded him. He was the lone survivor. He was wrapped up in the contemplation of his deliverance. He saw none of his comrades except three of their hats, one cap and two shoes.

 

He was perishing with hunger, but had nothing about him to eat or drink. He was afraid of being devoured by the wild beasts. To his great joy he found there fresh water. He climbed up a big tree and was so tired that he slept sound among the thick branches of the tree. The next morning he found himself refreshed.