Robinson Crusoe's Island.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5238, 31 October 1885, Page 1

Robinson Crusoe's Island.

How the Old Placb Looks ajuv What

is Seen these Now.

Opposite the harbor of Talparaiso stand* the island of Juan Fernandez, sacred to the memory of ii obinson Crusoe <: and hit man Friday, who kept things tidy and listened to the tales his master told." There isn't a boy where the English" tongue is spoken who hasn't read a de-» scription of this island, and it is only necessary to say that Daniel Defoe, or whoever wrote the book, must have studied the place with great attention, or had the island created to suit the picture he gave of it.

The little harbor is there, with its rocks and coves, just as it was when Bobinson went ashore; the care is in good order still, and the cliffs up which he and Friday used to chase the mountain goats. The goats are there, and the armadillos, the birds of wonderful plumage and the craw* fish among the rocki. Every boy who has read the story could go all over the place without a guide and find everything except Robinson himself and the faithful Fri« day. The island belongs to Chile and is leased to a cattle company, which has 20,000 or 30.0U0 head of cattle and as many more sheep grazing .over the bills. There are about 50 or 60 inhabitants, ranchmen with their families, unde.? the charge of a Frenchman named Csrawe, and besides the stock they raise a quan* tity of poultry and ship chickens and eggs, with some vegetables, to the Valparaiso market. The timber on the island is said to be of excellent quality, but is not much used.

JNo one eter goes there without bringing away a cane or two as mementos, and the brush from which these canes are made ia of a rery beautiful fibre and polishes well. Excursions go over frequently from Valparaiso, and the interest in Robinson Crusoe's experience is much stimulated by those who come this way.