Myint Soe Hlaing - Robinson Crusoe

1. 1. I go to the sea.

I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York, of a good family. At a very early age I wanted to go to the sea. My father was a wise man, and he begged me not to do so. For a time I decided not to think of it any more. But one day in the city of Hull I met a friend who was going to sea on his father's ship. He asked me to go with him. Then, without asking my father, without asking God's blessing, without any thought of the result, I went on board the ship.

( 1 )

I want to be a seafarer.

I was born in 1632. I was born in York, and my parents were well-to-do. I had always wanted to go to sea and have a good time. My father, being a wise man, forbade me from going. So I thought of the sea no more, and for a long time I forgot it. But one day I went to Hull. There I met a friend. He was about to go on a voyage with his father, and he wanted me to go with him. What can I say? I did not ask my father's permission, nor did I pray to God for help, and without thinking a bit about what would happen, I went straight to the deck of the ship.

2. The ship is lost in the storm.

On the same day we left Hull, meaning to go to the African coast. We guided the ship as if we were going to the island of Fernando de Noronha. Then we passed to the east of that island. After a few days there came a fearful storm. The wind and the waves threw the ship this way and that for twelve days. The ship was badly broken and a lot of water was coming in. Then one of our men, early in the morning, cried out, 'Land!' just after that, the ship ran on to some sand. The waves came over. the ship, and we knew that very soon it would be broken to pieces. We had a small boat on board; we let the boat down into the water, and got into it. When we had gone some distance in the boat, a great wave came from behind. 'Oh, God!' we cried and we were all thrown into the water.

( 2 )

In the storm

That same day we left Hull, intending to go to the coast of Africa. We sailed towards the island of Fernando de Noronha. We then sailed east of the island. A few days later a terrible storm arose. The ship was tossed about by strong winds and waves for twelve days. The ship was completely wrecked and the water was pouring in. Then early in the morning we heard one of the sailors shout, “We have found land.” No sooner had we heard this shout than the ship ran aground on a shallow sandbank. The waves were so great that we knew that we would soon be broken to pieces. So we lowered a small boat that had been put on board and everyone got into it. We had not yet thought of rowing, but we had already A huge wave came from behind. We could even beat the "god" with it. It seemed to grab people and throw them all into the water.

3. I am thrown up on the ground.

A great wave took me and carried me towards the shore: it left me on the land, badly hurt. I was very weak, but I got up on my feet and ran up to a dry place and lay there more dead than alive. After a time I was sick and threw up a great deal of sea water which had got into my stomach. Then I wanted to rest; but I dared not sleep on the ground for fear of being eaten by wild beasts.

So I climbed up into a tree, and remained there until morning. I was sure that all my friends had been killed and I alone had been saved. I was very tired and I quickly fell asleep.

( 3)

Throw it back on the hill.

A huge wave carried me to the beach and laid me down on the shore, wounded. I was also a man. But I tried my best to stand up. Then I ran as hard as I could to a dry place and threw myself down. I even thought that I would die. After a while, I became uncomfortable and vomited the seawater that had entered my stomach. Then I wanted to doze off. But I didn’t dare to lie down on the ground for fear of being eaten by wild animals.

So I thought I would climb a tree and stay there until morning. I thought all my companions had died at sea. Yes, of course. Now that I have escaped, am I the only one? I was too tired to think for long and fell asleep.

( 4)

Once upon a time on a ship

When I woke up, it was clear and clear. The sea was calm now. The ship was not moving for about a mile from the shore. I had no supplies. No food. No weapons to find food. So I decided to go to the ship and see if I could find anything useful. I took off my clothes and swam to the ship. When I got there, I climbed out of a hole in the side of the ship. The whole after part of the ship was flooded. But there were still some places where the water could not get in.