Робинзон Крузо
First Weeks on the Island
SoIresolvedtofindamorehealthyandmoreconvenientspotofground.
Iconsultedseveralthingsinmysituation,whichIfoundwouldbeproperforme. First,healthandfreshwater,Ijustnowmentioned. Secondly,shelterfromtheheatofthesun. Thirdlysecurityfromravenouscreatures,whethermenorbeasts. Fourthly,aviewtothesea,thatifGodsentanyshipinsightImightnotloseanyadvantageformydeliverance,ofwhichIwasnotwillingtobanishallmyexpectationyet.
Insearchofaplaceproperforthis,Ifoundalittleplainonthesideofarisinghill,whosefronttowardsthislittleplainwassteepasahouse-side,sothatnothingcouldcomedownuponmefromthetop; onthesideofthisrocktherewasahollowplace,wornalittlewayin,liketheentranceordoorofacave; buttherewasnotreallyanycave,orwayintotherockatall.
Ontheflatofthegreen,justbeforethishollowplace,Iresolvedtopitchmytent. Thisplainwasnotaboveahundredyardsbroad,andabouttwiceaslong,andlaylikeagreenbeforemydoor,andattheendofitdescendedirregularlyeverywaydownintothelowgroundsbytheseaside. ItwasontheNNW.sideofthehill, sothatIwasshelteredfromtheheateveryday,tillitcametoaW.andbyS.sun,orthereabouts,whichinthosecountriesisnearsetting.
BeforeIsetupmytent,Idrewahalfcirclebeforethehollowplace,whichtookinabouttenyardsinitssemi-diameterfromtherock,andtwentyyardsinitsdiameterfromitsbeginningandending.