I describ'd to him the Country of Europe，and particularly England，which I came from；how we liv'd，how we worshipp'd God，how we behav'd to one another；and how we traded in Ships to all Parts of the World：I gave him an Account of the Wreck which I had been on board of，and shew'd him as near as I could，the Place where she lay；but she was all beaten in Pieces before，and gone.
I shew'd him the Ruins of our Boat，which we lost when we escap'd，and which I could not stir with my whole Strength then；but was now fallen almost all to Pieces：Upon seeing this Boat，Friday stood musing a great while，and said nothing；I ask'd him what it was he study'd upon，at last says he，me see such Boat like come to Place at my Nation.
I did not understand him a good while；but at last，when I had examin'd farther into it，I understood by him，that a Boat，such as that had been，came on Shore upon the Country where he liv'd；that is，as he explain'd it，was driven thither by Stress of Weather：I presently imagin'd，that some European Ship must have been cast away upon their Coast，and the Boat might get loose，and drive a Shore；but was so dull，that I never once thought of Men making escape from a Wreck thither，much less whence they might come；so I only enquir'd after a Deion of the Boat.
Friday describ'd the Boat to me well enough；but brought me better to understand him，when he added with some Warmth，we save the white Mans from drown：Then I presently ask'd him，if there was any white Mans，as he call'd them，in the Boat；yes，he said，the Boat full white Mans：I ask'd him how many；he told upon his Fingers seventeen：I ask'd him then what become of them；he told me，they live，they dwell at my Nation.
This put new Thoughts into my Head；for I presently imagin'd，that these might be the Men belonging to the Ship，that was cast away in Sight of my Island，as I now call it；and who after the Ship was struck on the Rock，and they saw her inevitably lost，had sav'd themselves in their Boat，and were landed upon that wild Shore among the Savages.