Page:The Children's Robinson Crusoe, Or, The Remarkable Adventures of an Englishman.pdf/12

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jection to them is, that Robinson Crusoe is made to per form impossibilities, with only shells and stones for tools.

Some of the ingenious contrivances, however,which those works contain, have been adopted in this; though most of the incidents are either borrowed from the old story, or are entirely new.

The Life and Adventures of Alexander Selkirk , lately published from authentic sources, has furnished

some anecdotes; and from that work the author has

taken her description of the beautiful scenery and abundant productions of her unknown island. As goats were carried by the Spaniards, from South America to the island of Juan Fernandez, and there increased to a large flock, it has been considered allowable to place la mas, in the same way, on this supposed island of the

Pacific; and as a more interesting and important class of animals, they were preferred. Robinson's fall from a preci pice, with a lama under him, is copied from the account of a similar accident that bappened to Alexander Selkirk with a goat, which was thought to have saved his life by

breaking the fall. Theman Friday, of the Children 's Robinson Crusoe is supposed to be a native of the Sandwich Islands,which were discovered about the time of the date of this story. Their inhabitants being of a mild, affectionate , and tracta

ble nature, itwas thoughtthey might furnish a very teacha ble and interesting Friday; and for the representations here given of themanners and customs of that people, the writer has the authority of an enlightened traveller, who has been much among them, and to whom she is indebt ed for many valuable hints, which she begs leave grate

fully to acknowledge.