in the Pacific Ocean. 4S 



from time to time by us. He reported that he did not arrive at 

 the north point of Narborough or Turtle"'s Nose, until near sun- 

 down, and that he could perceive no vessels in the bay ; but ob- 

 served, at the same time, that the weather was hazy, and as the 

 bay is about thirty-five miles from side to side, and about the 

 same depth, it was possible for vessels to have been there without 

 his being able to observe them. We did not wish to believe that 

 the bay was destitute of vessels ; and while there was room to 

 build a hope of meeting the enemy, we kept our spirits up with 

 the expectation of finding them, either in the bay, or at anchor in 

 a cove called the Basin, on the Albemarle side of the passage be- 

 tween Elizabeth and Banks' Bay, where the whalers frequently 

 go to refit and wood, and get tortoises. Here, at times, a small 

 quantity of fresh water may be obtained, but never more than 

 sixty gallons per day, and seldom so large a quantity, and this 

 only after heavy rains. Lieutenant Downes brought with him 

 several turtle of a very large size, and different in their ap- 

 pearance either from the green, hawks-bill, loggerhead, or trunk 

 turtle. They were shaped much like the green turtle, but were 

 of a black, disagreeable appearance and smell. 



On doubling the point of Narborough, our yards were com- 

 pletely manned by seamen and officers, whose anxiety had taken 

 them aloft, all examining strictly every part of the bay, but could 

 discover no vessels. At length the cry of sail ho ! and shortly 

 afterwards another, seemed to electrify every man on board, and 

 it seemed now as if all our hopes and expectations were to be 

 realized. But in a few minutes those illusory prospects vanished, 

 and as sudden dejection, proceeding from disappointment, took 

 place ; for the supposed sails proved to be only white appearances 

 on the shore. Still, however, we did not despair ; we had not yet 

 examined the basin ; perhaps it might contain some vessels ; and, 

 as we were now only about five miles from it, Lieutenant Downes 

 was dispatched to reconnoitre, as well as to see if it was a suit- 

 able situation for us to refit the ship, fill up our wood, and what 

 quantity of water could there be obtained. He did not get in 

 until after sundown, and returned to the ship at one oVlock in 

 the morning ; and, to complete our disappointment, reported 

 that he had seen no vessels. To remove all doubts in my mind, 

 I determined to visit it myself ; and, as the moon was now rising, 

 directed my boat to be prepared, and started from the ship, 

 arriving at the basin at sunrise, which I found every thing that 

 could be desired to afford perfect security for a ship of the largest 

 size. The art of man could not have formed a more beautiful 

 basin, which is at the entrance about three cables'* length over, 

 and gradually enlarges to five cables' length, terminating in a 

 round bottom. The whole is surrounded by bi^ clilfe, except 



