PORTER S JOURNAL. 



141 



wood ; I therefore, to remove all doubts in my own mind, 

 determined to visit it myself; and, as the moon was now 

 rising, directed my boat to be prepared, and started from 

 the ship, arriving at the basin at sunrise, which I found 

 every thing that could be desired to afford perfect security 

 for a ship of the largest size. The art of man could not 

 have formed a more beautiful basin, which is at the en- 

 trance about three cables' length over, and gradually en- 

 larges to five cables' length, terminating in a round bottom. 

 The whole is surrounded by high cnlFs, except at the very 

 bottom, where is the only landing for boats, at a small ra- 

 vine, having three fathoms water along side of the rocks, 

 which, from every side to the middle, gradually deepens to 

 twelve fathoms, and has every where a clear, dark, sandy 

 bottom, free from rocks and every other danger. Vessels 

 should moor here head and stern, and when bound in should 

 keep mid-channel, and choose their distance from the 

 shore and depth of water. But as they may be liable to be 

 deceived, from the great height of the hills, it would be ad- 

 viseabie to send in a boat to anchor a buoy at the spot 

 where the ship should let go her anchor. We saw here 

 an abundance offish and green turtle, and on landing found 

 both the sea and land guanas, lizards, a small grey snake^ 

 and a variety of birds ; also, trees of a considerable size^ 

 w^hich would afford wood , for shipping, and among them a 

 species from which oozed a resinous substance, in very 

 large quantities, dripping from the trunk and limbs. This 

 tree produces a fruit nearly as large as a cherry 5 it was 

 then green, and had a very aromatic smell and taste. From 

 the basin we proceeded to the south, in search of the wa- 

 tering-place, and after rowing close along a rocky shore, 

 about two miles, without discovering it, concluded to re- 

 turn, and land in every place where there vv^as the least 

 probability of finding it ; although I was satisfied in my own 

 mind, that, had one existed, it would have been impracti- 

 cable to water at it, in consequence of the violence of the 

 surf, which beats with such force against the rocks as to en- 

 danger the safety of the boat, although the sea appeared 

 unusually calm. On our return we perceived a little 

 moisture on a flat rock, about half a mile from the mouth 

 of the basin, and with much difficulty I succeeded in land- 

 ing. This I found to be the watering-place we were in 



