50 



Portefs Voyage 



neighbourhood of Charles' Island, he had determined to look in 

 there before going to Albemarle, in hopes of meeting a prize, 

 little expecting to find me there at anchor. 



After Lieutenant Downes had been with me a short time, I 

 dispatched him to Albemarle, in pursuit of the stranger who had 

 touched at the island before us, directing him to stop at Charles' 

 Island as soon afterwards as possible, and, should he not find me 

 there, to search at the foot of the stake to which the letter-box 

 is attached, where I should bury a bottle containing instructions 

 for him. 



The cotton plant was found growing spontaneously, and a tree 

 of a very aromatic flavour and taste, which was no other than 

 the one formerly mentioned, found on the island of Albemarle, 

 and producing m large quantities, a resinous substance. This 

 Mr. Adams declared was the alcornoque, so famous for the cure 

 of consumptions, and is probably the same as that mentioned by 

 Colnet, and called by him the algarrooa. 



The only quadrupeds found on the island were tortoises, lizards, 

 and a few sea guanas ; the land guana was not to be found. Doves 

 peculiar to these islands, of a small size, and beautiful plumage, 

 were very numerous, and afforded great amusement to the younger 

 part of the crew in killing them with sticks and stones, which 

 was nowise difficult, as they were very tame. The English mock- 

 ing-bird was also found in great numbers, and a small blackbird, 

 with a remarkably short and strong bill, and a shrill note. These 

 were the only birds except aquatic found here ; the latter were 

 not numerous, and consisted of teal, which frequented a lagoon 

 on the east part of the bay, pelicans, boobies, and other birds 

 common to all the islands of these seas. Sea turtles and seals were 

 scarce and shy. 



From this island, James', Albemarle, Norfolk, Barrington, 

 Grossman's, Charles', and many others, were to be seen ; but we 

 could perceive none that bore the slightest resemblance, in po- 

 sition or appearance, to those called, by Captain Colnet, Dun- 

 can's and Jar vis' Islands. As this island was now destitute of a 

 name, and he could perceive no traces of its having been visited 

 before, he highly complimented me, by giving it the name of 

 Porter's Island. 



The southwest landing of this island is in latitude 42' 14" 

 south, longitude 90« 27' 9" west. 



The northwest landing is in latitude 0« 32' 40" south, longi- 

 tude 90« 23' 54" west. 



The northeast landing is in latitude O*' 31' 12" south, longitude 

 90« 12' 45" west. 



On the afternoon of the 28th, as we were standing to the 

 northward with the Montezuma in tow, the Barclay looking out 



