porter's journal. 



139 



was adopted that could prove likely to secure to us every 

 vessel in the bay, and we did not calculate on a number 

 less than ten or twelve. Indeed, we calculated on making 

 more prizes there than we could man, and hoped to be thus 

 indemnified for all loss of time, fatigues, and anxieties. 

 For my own part, I felt the utmost desire to know the re- 

 sult of our visit to the Gallipagos, and at the same time a 

 dread of disappointment, which, although possible, I did not 

 believe probable. However, the anxiety to know as soon 

 as possible our success or disappointment, induced me to 

 despatch heutenant Downes to take a look around the point 

 of Narborough, and reconnoitre the bay 5 for the ships had 

 been swept by the current, during the night, into Elizabeth 

 Bay ; and, as the wind was very light, we made very little 

 head-way. In the course of the day, it sprung up a breeze 

 from the southward, with which we endeavoured to beat 

 around Narborough against a strong current ; but toward 

 night it died away, and in a few hours we lost as much 

 ground as we had gained thr: ;igh the day. 



At one o'clock in the moriiing, lieutenant Downes return- 

 ed to the ship, whicn he v/as enabled to find by means of 

 flashes made from time to time by us. He reported that 

 he did not arrive at the north point of Narborough or Tur- 

 tle's Nose, until near sundown, and that he could perceive 

 no vessels in the bay ; but observed, at the same time, that 

 the weather was hazy, and as the bay is about thirty-five 

 miles from side to side, and about the same depth, it was 

 possible for vessels to have been there without his being 

 able to observe them. We did not wish to believe that the 

 bay was destitute of vessels ; and while there was room to 

 build a hope of meeting the enemy, we kept our spirits up 

 with the expectation of finding them, either in the bay, or 

 at anchor in a cove called the Basin, on the Albemarle 

 side of the passage between Elizabeth and Banks' Bay, 

 where the whalers frequently go to refit and wood, and get 

 tortoises. Here, at times, a small quantity of fresh water 

 may be obtained, but never more than sixty gallons per 

 day, and seldom so lar^e a quantity, and this only after 

 heayy rains. Lieutenant Downes brought with him seve- 

 ral turtle of a very lar^e size, and different in their appear- 

 ance either from the green, hawks-bill, loggerhead, or trunk 

 turtle. They were shaped much like the green turtle, but 



