xxiv 



PREFACE. 



him also acting as assistant surgeon, and gratifying 

 the benevolence of his heart by administering to the 

 sufferings of his shipmates. Again, he might have 

 discovered Mr. Adams employed in promoting 

 geographical and mathematical knowledge; in 

 drawing and surveying, and in performing all the 

 duties of his station, with a degree of attention as 

 well as of ability, honourable to himself, and highly 

 useful to his country. 



In noticing various particulars connected with 

 the author's visit to the Gallapagos, the Reviewer 

 is indifferently comical on the subject of the tor- 

 toises which abound in those islands. To all the 

 wit the Reviewer can possibly muster, he is right 

 welcome ; but as he couples his jests with an insi- 

 nuation prejudicial to the author's veracity, the 

 paragraph may seem to require a refutation. 



" Captain Porter next visits the Gallapagos Islands, 

 where land tortoises, we are told, are to be obtained in 

 great plenty ; as indeed we should conclude fronfi their 

 name, ' The Islands of Tortoises but we were not aware 

 that they reached the weight of four hundred pounds each, 

 or that after living a year without food or water, thej 

 would be found ' greatly improved in flavour.' They 

 growed no doubt since honest Dampier's time, who thought 

 he should hardly gain credit in stating, ' one of the largest 

 of these creatures to weigh one hundred or two hundred 

 pounds, and some of them to measure two feet six inches 

 over the challopel, or belly.' " 



To the authority of Danipier, (which, by the way, 

 is here very vague and indefinite,) the author will 

 oppose that of Colnet, an Englishman, and a navy 

 officer, whose veracity, it is presumed, will on these 

 accounts pass current with the Reviewer, although 

 the latter appears to have been quite ignorant of 

 his ever having existed. If it were not too pre- 



