Jethou or Crusoe Life in the Channel Isles   By: Ernest R. (Ernest Richard) Suffling (1855-1911)

Illustrated by Drawings Prepared from Author's Own Sketches

by

E. R. SUFFLING

Author of "History and Legends of the Broad District," "How to Organize a Cruise on the Broads," "Afloat in a Gipsy Van," etc.

Third Edition

[Illustration: Publisher's logo]

London Jarrold & Sons, 10 & 11, Warwick Lane, E.C. [All Rights Reserved] 1898

PREFACE.

As the writer does not pretend to possess what is termed literary style, he would ask the indulgence of the reader in any little slip of the pen which may occur in these pages, as it is not every Crusoe who can command the facile quill, the pure style, or the lively imagination of a Daniel Defoe, to narrate his adventures.

It must be borne in mind that the island of Juan Fernandez possessed many natural features, and a far greater area than Jethou can boast of, and therefore more scope for the development of incidents and descriptive embellishment.

Doubtless many of the adventures here placed before the public will appear puny beside the exploits of the original Crusoe; but it must be taken into consideration that the author does not, like Defoe's hero, revel in the impossible. At the same time it may be noted that the adventures detailed are of a sufficiently exciting kind as to be above any suspicion of dulness.

Juan Fernandez lies about four hundred miles from the nearest land, and it is therefore very difficult to imagine from whence the savages came who were about to convert Friday into a fricassee . The Friday of our story, y'clept Monday, came to Jethou in a natural if in an exciting manner, and it will be found that everything else in the narrative, if not an exact account of what really did happen, is at least feasible. It is in fact a practicable narrative, served up in a plain, ungarnished form, except that to make it more palatable to the general reader a little love story has been introduced towards the conclusion, which, it is hoped, sustains the interest right to the last, and makes the volume end as all good books should, by allowing the principal actors to "live happily ever after."

E. R. SUFFLING (HARRY NILFORD).

Blomfield Lodge , Portsdown Road , London, W.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. PAGE

My birth and home My pretty cousin Accident to the "Kittywich" Journey to Guernsey Pleading to become a Crusoe My wish granted Outfit secured Sail to Jethou 9

CHAPTER II.

I take possession of the Island Landing stores A grand carousal Farewell Alone 24

CHAPTER III.

First thoughts and impressions A tour of the Island and description 32

CHAPTER IV.

Farming operations I make a plough and a cart A donkey hunt Dumb helpers My live stock 44

CHAPTER V.

Canoeing Fish of the place The ormer and limpet A curious fishing adventure Queer captures from the sea Rock fish Construct a fish pond and water mill 55

CHAPTER VI.

"Flapp," the gull Surgical operation The gull who refused to die Taxidermy extraordinary Feathered friends Snakes 69

CHAPTER VII.

I build a curious "box boat" An unpleasant night at sea My Sunday service The poem, "Alexander Selkirk" Its applicability to my lot 79

CHAPTER VIII.

A trip to St. Sampson's harbour A horrid porcine murder A voyage round Sark Nearly capsized Trip round Guernsey The pepper box Curiosity of tourists 93

CHAPTER IX.

Harvest operations Explore La Creux Derrible, and nearly lose my life Crusoe on crutches An extraordinary discovery Kill a grampus Oil on troubled waters Make an overflow pump 112

CHAPTER X.

A storm and a wreck The castaway Dead A night of horror The boathouse destroyed A burial at sea 126