70 



Porter's Voyage 



shifts of wind and rapid currents. Soundings were obtained in 

 mid-channel with eighty fathoms of Une, coarse gravelly bottom. 

 There appears no danger in lying any distance from the shores of 

 either side, with the exception of the aforesaid reef, which we got 

 sight of before night, and which does not extend more than a mile 

 and a half from the shore. On the beaches of the Albemarle 

 side, we saw vast numbers of turtle, and seals kept playing around 

 us during the whole passage, which may properly be called a 

 sound. 



I had here an opportunity of seeing in what manner the seals 

 are enabled to devour their prey when in the water, which had 

 hitherto been a mystery to me, they not having feet to assist them 

 in tearing to pieces the large fish they frequently take. One ran 

 near the ship with a large red fish, of the snapper kind, in his 

 mouth. This fish was still alive, and made considerable struggle; 

 the seal reared himself out of the water as far as his breast, then 

 throwing his head around on one shoulder, appeared to rally all 

 his strength, and jerking it with great violence to the other, 

 throwing the fish at a great distance from him, tearing off with a 

 jerk a mouthful, which he greedily swallowed. By repeating 

 this action, he in a few minutes devoured the whole fish, which, 

 from its size, I should suppose, weighed at least ten pounds. It 

 was in vain that the man-of-war hawks, boobies, pelicans, and 

 other birds which hovered over him, endeavoured to seize on his 

 prey ; his activity baffled all their attempts, and prevented them 

 even from picking up the scraps which frequently flew off from 

 the fish as he threw it from him. 



Chatham Island, like all the rest, is of volcanic origin ; but the 

 ravages appear less recent here than at most of the others. Its 

 vegetable productions are the same, with the exception of the 

 cotton tree, of which I saw no vestige. But, owing to the ex- 

 treme drought, it may have perished in this part, and perhaps 

 exists in the interior, where there is some appearance of verdure, 

 At James' as well as at Charles' Island, the cotton tree grows very 

 luxuriantly, most of the trees being from eight to ten feet high. 

 It appears to be of the same kind as that produced on the Mis- 

 sissippi ; but, for want of culture, the pods do not produce in 

 such large quantities, nor is the cotton equal in quality ; atten- 

 tion to its cultivation would, no doubt, greatly improve it. The 

 soil of these islands, although dry and parched up, seems rich 

 and productive ; and, were it not for the want of streams of 

 fresh water, they might be rendered of great importance to any 

 commercial nation that would establish a colony there. They 

 afford good harbours, are situated in the finest climate under 

 heaven, are in the neighbourhood of the best fishing-ground for 

 the spermaceti whales, and afford a rich supply of fresh provi^ 



