porter's journal* 



131 



animal diat cannot, like the tortoises, live mthout food, or 

 draw its subsistence entirely from the sea. 



Lieutenant Downes saw on the rocks with which the bay 

 was in many parts skirted, several seals and pelicans, some 

 of which he killed ; but, on searching diligently the shore, 

 was unable to find any land tortoises, though they no doubt 

 abound in other parts of the island. Doves were seen in 

 great numbers, and were so easily approached, that several 

 of them were knocked over with stones. While our boat 

 was on shore, captain Randall sent his boat to a small beach 

 m the same bay, about a mile from where our boat landed, 

 and in a short time she returned loaded with fine green tur- 

 tle, two of which he sent us, and we found them excellent. 

 It may be seen by captain Macy's letter, that on the east 

 side of the island there is another landing, which he calls 

 Pat's landing ; and this place vnW probably immortalize an 

 Irishman, named Patrick Watkins, who some years since 

 left an English ship, and took up his abode on this island, 

 and built himself a miserable hut, about a mile from the 

 landing called after him, in a valley containing about two 

 acres of ground capable of cultivation, and perhaps the on- 

 ly spot on the island which affords sufficient moisture for 

 the purpose. Here he succeeded in raising potatoes and 

 pumpkins in considerable quantities, which he generally ex- 

 changed for rum, or sold for cash. The appearance of this 

 man, from the accounts I have received of him, was the most 

 dreadful that can be imagined ; ragged clothes, scarce suffi- 

 cient to cover his nakedness, and covered with vermin ; his 

 red hair and beard matted, his skin much burnt, from constant 

 exposure to the sun, and so wild and savage in his manner 

 and appearance, that he struck every one with horror. For 

 several years this wretched being lived by himself on this 

 desolate spot, without any apparent desire than that of pro- 

 curing rum in sufficient quantities to keep himself intoxi- 

 cated, and, at such times, after an absence from liis hut of 

 several days, he would be found in a state of perfect insen- 

 sibility, rolling among the rocks of the mountains. He ap- 

 peared to be reduced to the lowest grade of which human 

 nature is capable, and seemed to have no desire beyond 

 the tortoises and other animals of the island, except that of 

 getting drunk. But this man, wretched and miserable as he 

 may have appeared, was neither destitute of ambition, nor 



