we call _fustic_, or between that
and the Niacaragua wood, being much of the same colour and smell. But
though my man exceeded me in the knowledge of the most proper tree, yet
I shewed him a much better and clearer way to make a canoe than ever he
knew before; for he was for burning the hollow or cavity of the tree, in
order to make this boat; but I then told him how he might do it with
tools, learning him at the same time how to use them, which indeed he
did very dexterously; so that in a month's time we finished it, making
it very handsome, by cutting the outside in the true shape of a boat.
After this it took us a full fortnight before we could get her into the
water, which we did as it were inch by inch, upon great rollers; but
when she was in, she would have carried twenty men, with all the ease
imaginable.

As I was very well pleased, you may be sure at the launching of this man
of war of mine, I was no less amazed to behold with what dexterity my
man would manage her, turn her, and paddle her along. 'Well Friday,'
said I, 'what do you think of it now? Do you think this will carry us
over? _Yes, master_, said he, _me venture over well, though great blow
wind_. But my design was yet farther, which he was insensible of; and
that was to make a mast and a sail, and to provide her with an anchor
and cable. As to a mast, that was no difficult thing at all to procure:
so I fixed upon a strait young cedar-tree; which I found near the place,
great plenty of it abounding in the island; and setting Friday to cut it
down, I gave him particular directions how to shape and order it; but as
to the sail, that I managed myself. I very well knew I had some old
ones, or pieces of sails enough, which had lain six and twenty years by
me; but not being careful to preserve them, as thinking I should have no
occasion to use them any more, when I came to overlook them I found them
almost all rotten, except two; and with these I went to work, and after
a great deal of pains and aukward tedious stitching for want of needles,
at length I finished a three-cornered ugly thing, like those which our
long boats use, and which I very well knew how to manage, especially
since it was like that which I had in my patron's fishing boat, when,
with my boy Xury, I made my escape from the Barbarian shore.

It was near two months, I think, before I completed this work, that is,
the rigging and fitting my mast and sails; and indeed they were nicely
done,