THE MAN-COVER
Carlyle puts it; and considering—as I think necessary to
conclude, contrary to the immortal Scotsman—considering
how very little more we know about the most important
questions which concern the human race than did our tailed
ancestors, it might strike the reflective mind with some
surprise that, however unpleasant they may be froma personal
point of view, the most wondrous and striking experiences
which I am undergoing will doubtless be of no little help to
the dond-fide thinkers of our present day. Dean Swift and
Samuel Butler stand, no one will deny it, as the greatest
benefactors of humanity. If my sufferings could prove of any
utility, in their turn, I should feel myself proud and most
happy to describe at length the life I am now leading with
three sailors, a dog, a musician, a box whose value I am
learning every day to appreciate more and more, and our
carrier-pigeons, in a distant island.
I must begin methodically and give a systematic account
of mylife here. Itrust that the Authority presiding over our
destinies will look upon me as the most logical of all men.
As the surroundings play an important part in our life, my
first duty is to describe them. The island is a large one.
When I have gone round it myself I shall perhaps be able
to give a rough estimate of its area. For the present I
can but say: zt zs a large island. We have trees by
thousands: water trees, from which, after the stems have been
cut and slashed, the water pours down; kola-nut trees, papaw
trees, with their flowers, male and female; dragon trees, fig
trees, cocoa-nut palms, bread-fruit trees, and the rest. Beautiful
birds are dwelling in the branches. All that is needed for
life is abundant and easy to gather. The climate permits us
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