138 



porter's JOURNAl., 



laid with surprising regularity, in lines perfectly straight 

 and parallel. 



Perceiving a breeze springing up, I hastened on board, 

 (for I had objects in view of more nnportance than examin- 

 ing the rocky coast of this dreary place, or catching guanas 

 and seals,) where, on my arrival, 1 caused ail sail to be 

 made, and shaped my course for Narborough Island, which 

 now began to show itself open with Point Christopher. In 

 its appearance it bears some resemblance to a turtle's back. 

 I was in hopes that the breeze would carry us clear of the 

 northern point of that island before day-light, in order that 

 we might have the whole of the next day for securing our 

 prizes in Banks' Bay, which lies between Narborough and 

 the south head of Albemarle, Cape Berkley. The Island 

 of Albemarle is formed something like a crescent, the con- 

 vex side lying to the west ; and Narborough Island, which 

 is nearly round, lies in the bend, forming Banks' Bay on 

 the north and Elizabeth Bay on the south, leaving a safe 

 passage inside from one bay to the other. To Banks' Bay 

 the fishermen resort every year, between March and July, 

 to take the whale, which come in there in great numbers 

 at that season, in pursuit of the squid or cuttle fish, which 

 are brought into the eddy formed there by the rapid cur- 

 rents that prevail. In this bay vessels are enabled to keep 

 their stations, notwithstanding the currents and calm.s which 

 prevail, and frequently lie for months between what is call- 

 ed the Turtle's Nose of Narborough ar.d the North Head, 

 without once being swept out. But should it so happen 

 that they are drifted out heyond the pro'ecting points, and 

 fall into the northern currents, they are often a month, and 

 even more, before they can recover their stations ; and it 

 sometimes happens that the whole fleet, which generally 

 consists of fifteen or twenty sail, are driven as far north as 

 the latitude of 2 , and are unable to return till the current 

 changes. A knowledge of this now caused great uneasi- 

 ness in my mind. I had formed the most sanguine expec- 

 tations of meeting with great success here, and every thing 

 seemed to justify them, but still I could not resist those 

 anxiaus feelings, which cannot be repelled at such moments. 

 We had all along calculated on reaping a rich harvest from 

 the enemy at the Gallipagos Islands. It was the constant 

 subject of our conversation and solicitude, and every scheme 



