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十月后半月十一月十二月一月二月前半月干旱,太阳在赤道南面。 The Rainy Season sometimes held longer or shorter, as the Winds happen'd to blow; but this was the general Observation I made: After I had found by Experience, the ill Consequence of being abroad in the Rain. I took Care to furnish my self with Provisions before hand, that I might not be oblig'd to go out; and I sat within Doors as much as possible during the wet Months. 雨季有时长,有时短,主要决定于风向。当然,这不过是我大致的观察罢了。生活经验告诉我,淋雨会生病,我就在雨季到来之前贮备好足够的粮食,这样我就不必冒雨外出觅食。在雨季,我尽可能呆在家里。 This Time I found much Employment, (and very suitable also to the Time) for I found great Occasion of many Things which I had no way to furnish my self with, but by hard Labour and constant Application; particularly, I try'd many Ways to make my self a Basket, but all the Twigs I could get for the Purpose prov'd so brittle, that they would do nothing. It prov'd of excellent Advantage to me now, That when I was a Boy, I used to take great Delight in standing at a Basketmaker's, in the Town where my Father liv'd, to see them make their Wicker-ware; and being as Boys usually are, very officious to help, and a great Observer of the Manner how they work'd those Things, and sometimes lending a Hand, I had by this Means full Knowledge of the Methods of it, that I wanted nothing but the Materials; when it came into my Mind, That the Twigs of that Tree from whence I cut my Stakes that grew, might possibly be as tough as the Sallow's, and Willows, and Osiers in England, and I resolv'd to try. 每到雨季,我做些适于在家做的工作。我知道,我生活中还缺少不少东西,只有用劳动耐心去做才能制造出来,呆在家里正好做这些事。特别是,我曾想过许多办法,想编一个箩筐,但我弄来的枝条都太脆,没有用。小时候,我喜欢站在城里藤皮店的门口看工匠们编箩筐或篮子什么的。像大部分孩子一样,我也爱管闲事;我不仅仔细观察,有时还帮上一手,因此学会了打箩筐。现在,这技术可以派上用场了。只要有合适的材料,我就可以编出箩筐来。我忽然想到,砍做木桩的那种树的枝条,也许与英国的柳树一样坚韧。于是,我决定拿这种枝条试试看。 Accordingly the next Day, I went to my Country-House, as I call'd it, and cutting some of the smaller Twigs, I found them to my Purpose as much as I could desire; whereupon I came the next Time prepar'd with a Hatchet to cut down a Quantity, which I soon found, for there was great Plenty of them; these I set up to dry within my Circle or Hedge, and when they were fit for Use, I carry'd them to my Cave, and here during the next Season, I employ'd my self in making, as well as I could, a great many Baskets, both to carry Earth, or to carry or lay up any Thing as I had occasion; and tho' I did not finish them very handsomly, yet I made them sufficiently serviceable for my Purpose; and thus afterwards I took Care never to be without them; and as my Wicker-ware decay'd, I made more, especially, I made strong deep Baskets to place my Corn in, instead of Sacks, when I should come to have any Quantity of it. 第二天,我跑到了我的那座乡间住宅,在附近砍了些细枝条,结果发现十分合适。于是,第二次我带了一把斧头,准备多砍一些下来。这种树那边很多,不一会儿就砍下了许多枝条。我把它们放在篱笆上晒干,然后带回我海边住宅的洞室里。第二个雨季来临后,我就用它们来编筐子,并尽可能多编一些,或用来装土,或用来装东西。我的筐子编得不太好看,但还能凑合着用。以后,我经常编些筐子,用坏了就再编新的。我还编了不少较深的筐子,又坚实,又实用。后来,我种的谷物收获多了,就不用袋子而用自编的筐子来装。 Having master'd this Difficulty, and employ'd a World of Time about it, I bestirr'd my self to see if possible how to supply two Wants: I had no Vessels to hold any Thing that was Liquid, except two Runlets which were almost full of Rum, and some Glass-Bottles, some of the common Size, and others which were Case-Bottles square, for the holding of Waters, Spirits, etc. I had not so much as a Pot to boil any Thing, except a great Kettle, which I sav'd out of the Ship, and which was too big for such Use as I desir'd it, viz. To make Broth, and stew a Bit of Meat by it self. The Second Thing I would fain have had, was a Tobacco-Pipe; but it was impossible to me to make one, however, I found a Contrivance for that too at last. 花了大量的时间解决了箩筐问题之后,我又想动手解决其他两个问题。首先,我没有装液体的盛具;虽然我有两只桶,但都装满了甘蔗酒。此外,还有几只玻璃瓶,有几只普通大小的,还有几只方形的,用来装了水和烈酒。我没有煮东西的锅子,只有一把大壶,那也是我从大船上取下来的。可是这壶太大,不适于用来烧汤或煮肉。其次,我需要一个烟斗,但一下子无法做出来。不过后来我还是想出办法做了一个。 
在整个夏季,或者说是旱季,我忙于栽第二道木桩和编箩筐。同时,我进行了另一件工作,占去的时间比预料的多得多。 I mention'd before, That I had a great Mind to see the whole Island, and that I had travell'd up the Brook, and so on to where I built my Bower, and where I had an Opening quite to the Sea on the other Side of the Island; I now resolv'd to travel quite Cross to the Sea-Shore on that Side; so taking my Gun, a Hatchet, and my Dog, and a larger Quantity of Powder and Shot than usual, with two Bisket Cakes, and a great Bunch of Raisins in my Pouch for my Store, I began my Journey; when I had pass'd the Vale where my Bower stood as above, I came within View of the Sea, to the West, and it being a very clear Day, I fairly descry'd Land, whether an Island or a Continent, I could not tell; but it lay very high, extending from the West, to the W. S. W. at a very great Distance; by my Guess it could not be less than Fifteen or Twenty Leagues off. 前面曾经提到过,我一直想周游全岛。我先走到小溪尽头,最后到达我修筑乡间住宅的地方,在那儿有一片开阔地一直延伸到海岛另一头的海边。我决定先走到海岛那头的海岸边。我带上枪,斧头,狗,以及较多的火药子弹;另外还带了两大块干粮和一大包葡萄干。就这样我踏上了旅程。我穿过我那茅舍所在的山谷,向西眺望,看到了大海。这一天,天气晴朗,大海对面的陆地清晰可见。我不知道那是海岛,还是大陆;只见地势很高,从西直向西南偏西延伸,连绵不断;但距我所在的小岛很远,估计约有45海里至60海里。 I could not tell what Part of the World this might be, otherwise than that I know it must be Part of America, and as I concluded by all my Observations, must be near the Spanish Dominions, and perhaps was all Inhabited by Savages, where if I should have landed, I had been in a worse Condition than I was now; and therefore I acquiesced in the Dispositions of Providence, which I began now to own, and to believe, order'd every Thing for the best; I say, I quieted my Mind with this, and left afflicting my self with Fruitless Wishes of being there. 我不知道那是什么地方,估计是美洲的一部分吧。据我观察,靠近西班牙领地,也许上面都是野人的天下。要是当时我在那儿上岸,情况肯定比现在更糟。现在,我更愿听从天命,并感到这种安排是尽善尽美的。这样一想,我就感到心平气和了。我不再自寻烦恼,妄想到海对面的陆地上去了。 Besides, after some Pause upon this Affair, I consider'd, that if this Land was the Spanish Coast, I should certainly, one Time or other, see some Vessel pass or re-pass one Way or other; but if not, then it was the Savage Coast between the Spanish Country and Brasils, which are indeed the worst of Savages; for they are Cannibals, or Men-eaters, and fail not to murther and devour all the humane Bodies that fall into their Hands. 另外,我经过了一番思考,得出了如下的结论:如果这片陆地确实是属于西班牙领地的海岸,那迟早会有船只经过;如果没有船只在那边的海岸来往,那儿肯定是位于西班牙领地和巴西之间的蛮荒海岸,上面住着最野蛮的土人。这些土人都是吃人的野人。任何人落入他们的手里,都会给他们吃掉。 With these Considerations I walk'd very leisurely forward, I found that Side of the Island where I now was, much pleasanter than mine, the open or Savanna Fields sweet, adorn'd with Flowers and Grass, and full of very fine Woods. I saw Abundance of Parrots, and fain I would have caught one, if possible to have kept it to be tame, and taught it to speak to me. I did, after some Pains taking, catch a young Parrot, for I knock'd it down with a Stick, and having' recover'd it, I brought it home; but it was some Years before I could make him speak: However, at last I taught him to call me by my Name very familiarly: But the Accident that follow'd, tho' it be a Trifle, will be very diverting in its Place. 我边想边缓步前进。我感到,我现在所在的小岛这边的环境,比我原来住的那边好多了。这儿草原开阔,绿草如茵,遍地的野花散发出阵阵芳香,且到处是茂密的树林。我看到许多鹦鹉,很想捉一只驯养起来,教它说话。经过一番努力,我用棍子打下了一只小鹦鹉。等它苏醒后,我把它带回了家。但过了好多年,我才教会它说话,终于让它亲热地叫我的名字。后来,它曾差点儿把我吓死,不过说起来也十分有趣。 
我对这次旅行感到十分满意。在地势较低的一片地方,我还发现了不少像野兔和狐狸似的动物。这两种动物我以前都未见到过。我打死了几只,但不想吃它们的肉。我没有必要冒险,因为不缺食物,更何况我的食物十分可口,尤其是山羊肉、鸽子和鳖这三种,再加上葡萄干。如果就每个人平均享用的食品数量而言,即使是伦敦利登赫尔菜场①,也不能提供更丰盛的筵席。虽然我境况悲惨,但还是应感激上天,因为我不但不缺食物,而且十分丰盛,甚至还有珍馐佳肴。 I never travell'd in this Journey above two Miles outright in a Day, or thereabouts; but I took so many Turns and Returns, to see what Discoveries I could make, that I came weary enough to the Place where I resolv'd to sit down for all Night; and then I either repos'd my self in a Tree, or surrounded my self with a Row of Stakes set upright in the Ground, either from one Tree to another, or so as no wild Creature could come at me, without Waking me. 在这次旅行中,我一天走不到两英里远。我总是绕来绕去,往复来回,希望能有新的发现。因此,当我走到一个地方准备呆下来过夜时,人已感到十分困倦了。有时我爬到树上去睡;要是睡在地上,四周就插上一道木桩,或把木桩插在两颗树之间。这样,要是有野兽走近的话,就会先把我惊醒。 As soon as I came to the Sea Shore, I was surpriz'd to see that I had taken up my Lot on the worst Side of the Island; for here indeed the Shore was cover'd with innumerable Turtles, whereas on the other Side I had found but three in a Year and half. Here was also an infinite Number of Fowls, of many Kinds, some which I had seen, and some which I had not seen of before, and many of them very good Meat; but such as I knew not the Names of, except those call'd Penguins. 我一走到海边,便发现我住的那边是岛上环境最糟的地方,这真有点出乎我的意料。在这儿,海滩上龟鳖成群;而在我住的那边海边,一年半中我才找到了三只。此外,还有无数的飞禽,种类繁多;有些是我以前见过的,有些却从未见过。不少飞禽的肉都很好吃。在这么多飞禽中,我只认出一种叫企鹅的东西,其余的我都叫不上名字。 I could have shot as many as I pleas'd, but was very sparing of my Powder and Shot; and therefore had more Mind to kill a she Goat, if I could, which I could better feed on; and though there were many Goats here more than on my Side the Island, yet it was with much more Difficulty that I could come near them, the Country being flat and even, and they saw me much sooner than when I was on the Hill. 这儿鸟那么多,我本可以爱打多少就打多少,但我不想浪费弹药。要是能打到一只山羊就能吃得更好。可是,这儿山羊虽比我住的那边多,但因这一带地势平坦,稍一靠近它们就被发现,不像那边我埋伏在山上难以被山羊察觉。 I confess this Side of the Country was much pleasanter than mine, but yet I had not the least Inclination to remove; for as I was fix'd in my Habitation, it became natural to me, and I seem'd all the while I was here, to be as it were upon a Journey, and from Home: However, I travell'd along the Shore of the Sea, towards the East, I suppose about twelve Miles; and the setting up a great Pole upon the Shore for a Mark, I concluded I would go Home again; and that the next Journey I took should be on the other Side of the Island, East from my Dwelling, and so round till I came to my Post again: Of which in its Place. 我承认这边比我住的地方好得多,但我无意搬家,因为我在那边已住惯了。这边再好,总觉得是在外地旅行,不是在家里。我沿着海边向东走,估计大约走了十二英里后,我在岸上竖了一根大柱子作为记号,便决定暂时回家。我准备下次旅行从家里出发,向相反方向走,沿海岸往东兜上一个圈子,回到这儿立柱子的地方。这些我后面再交待。
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