22 



Porter s Voyage 



her officers, there was but Uttle intercourse between them. The 

 visit lasted about two hours, during which time they viewed 

 every part of the ship ; and akhough she appeared under great 

 disadvantage, from having been so long at sea, and from the tem- 

 pestuous passage round Cape Horn, still they were much pleased 

 and astonished that Anglo-Americans^ as they styled us, could 

 build, equip, and manage ships of so large a size. 



The governor, before he left the ship, invited myself and offi- 

 cers to a party for the next evening, and expressed great regrets 

 that we had not a;Tived sooner, as they had had the evening be- 

 fore great rejoicings, in consequence of a victory gained by their 

 troops over those of Peru. It seems that a small, unimportant 

 fortress, belonging to the latter, had fallen into the hands of the 

 Chilians. 



When we first arrived, a few boats came off with fruit, and, as 

 was the case at St. Catharines, the most exorbitant prices were 

 demanded for the most trifling article. However, as they con- 

 tinued to increase in numbers, I soon saw that the evil would be 

 speedily removed ; and permission being given them to establish 

 their market on board, our supply was, in a few hours, as abun- 

 dant, and at as low prices, as in the market on shore. Nothing could 

 exceed the excellence and abundance of the apples, pears, peaches, 

 nectarines, melons, onions, potatoes, and vegetables of every de- 

 scription. The potatoes are superior in size and quality to those 

 of any other country, and are indigenous. Tons of the forego- 

 ing articles were sold to our people, which were laid by as a sea 

 stock, as well as hogs and poultry in great numbers, and of the 

 best qualities. The fowls are of the largest size, and of that kind 

 called the China fowl, which were sold at the moderate price of 

 two and a half dollars per dozen ; indeed, I soon perceived that, 

 unless I placed some restrictions, my ship would be much encum- 

 bered with the stock on board her. I therefore, before my 

 departure, gave directions that all the hogs belonging to the crew 

 should be killed, except one for each mess ; and this arrangement 

 left upwards of one hundred hogs on board, counting those be- 

 longing to the officers. No part of the world could have afforded 

 us a more ample supply of every kind of provision required. 

 The flour and bread were of a very superior quality, and could 

 be procured in any quantities without difficulty. We could not, 

 however, without considerable delay, procure salt provisions, ex- 

 cept jerked beef : this was to be had in large quantities, and put 

 up in a superior manner for exportation, in a network formed of 

 strips of hide, containing one hundred weight. All the dry pro- 

 visions were put up in hides ; the flour was better secured in 

 them, and more closely packed, than it could possibly be in 

 barrels; and, although much heavier, we found them more 



