160 



porter's journal. 



pareiitlj more than two days* On our way to tlie spring 

 we found other testimonies of persons having been recently 

 there ; such as a pair of mockasons, made of EngUsh can- 

 vas, and a tortoise shell containing about two quarts of 

 Enghsh Barley. 



This part of the island abounds with tortoises, which 

 frequent the springs for the sake of the water, and upwards 

 of thirty of them were turned on their backs by us, as they 

 came down to drink, during the short time we remained 

 there, which was not more than an hour and a half. But 

 Tve were enabled to bring down only one, and he was se- 

 lected more for his antiquated appearance than for his size 

 or supposed excellence. His weight was exactly one hnn- 

 flred and ninety seven pounds, but he was far from being 

 considered of a large size. 



As I returned from the spring, I could not help reflecting 

 on the extraordinary scheme that I was about attempting 

 to procure water, and was almost appalled by the obstacles 

 which presented themselves. Tn addition to the difficulties 

 of getting it down to the beach, it would be necessary there 

 to put it into large casks, and from thence raft it to the ship, 

 a distance of six miles, through a high sea, and sometimes 

 t^igainst rapid currents. To this must be added the danger 

 and inconvenience of having one half of my crew at least 

 separated from the ship, thus leaving not only her but our 

 prizes exposed, in a defenceless state, to the attacks of an 

 enemy. As water was to be procured in that part of the 

 island, I thought it not unlikely that it might be found near 

 the bay in v/hich we lay ; and well knowing the roving dis- 

 position of seamen, I determined to let a party go on shore 

 to amuse themselves, confidently believing, if water was to 

 be found within two or three miles of us, it would be dis- 

 covered by them. On their return at night I was not dis- 

 appointed, for they informed me that they had found up- 

 wards of forty or fifty barrels of water lodged in the differ- 

 ent hollows of the rocks, about a mile and a half from the 

 shore ; that the difficulties of getting to it were very great, 

 "but they did not doubt that each man would be enabled to 

 bring down, in ten-gallon kegs, forty gallons per day. I 

 immediately caused "casks to be landed, and, by sending 

 parties on shore daily, procured while we lay here two 

 thousand gallons, much of it to be sure, of a filthy appear- 



