SELKIRK
AND
STARBOARD.
“He never heard a sound more dismal than their parting oars.”—p. 8.
THE
LIFE AND ADVENTURES
OF
ALEXANDER SELKIRK,
THE REAL ROBINSON CRUSOE.
A NARRATIVE FOUNDED ON FACTS.
NEW-YORK:
PUBLISHED BY M. DAY & CO. 374 PEARL-STREET,
AND
BAKER, CRANE & CO. 158 PEARL-STREET.
James Egbert, Printer.
1841.
[Pg 7]
ADVENTURES
OF
ALEXANDER SELKIRK.
Alexander Selkirk was born in the year 1676,and was the seventh son of John Selkirk, shoemaker andtanner, in Largo, Scotland. His mother looked uponhim as one that would pass through some great events,and she resolved to have him push his fortune at sea,where he went in his nineteenth year, to escape the rebukeof his unruly conduct. He was from home six years;and again being guilty of very bad behavior, and havingbeaten a young infirm brother, and raised a riot in his father’shouse, he was publicly reprimanded: upon this, heleft home, and being a skilful seaman, was appointed[Pg 8]Sailing Master, in a vessel called the Cinque Ports—asmall sailor which went in company with captain Dampierto the South Sea.
Having quarrelled with his captain, and having hada dream that his ship would be wrecked, he resolved toquit it, and was set on shore at the uninhabited islandof Juan Fernandez. He had scarcely left the boat, whenhe sorely repented, and he “never heard a sound moredismal than their parting oars.”
Selkirk catching Seals.
From the beginning to the end of September, the vesselremained undergoing repairs. The disagreement,in