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PORTER S JOURNAL. 



ried five years before, from a ship called the Georgians, 

 commanded by captain Pitts. Over it was erected a white 

 board, bearing an inscription, neatly executed, showing his 

 age, &;c., and terminating with the following epitaph, which 

 I insert more on account of the extreme simplicity of the 

 verse, and its powerful and flattering appeal to the feelings, 

 than for its elegance, or the correctness of the composition : 



Gentle reader, as you pass by, 

 As you are now, so wonce was 1 5 

 As now my body is in the dust, 

 I hope in heaven my soul to rest. 



The spot where his remains were deposited was shaded 

 by two lofty thorn-bushes, which afforded an agreeable 

 shade and fragrance, and became the favourite resort of our 

 men at their meals. The pile of stones (which had been 

 piously placed over the grave by his shipmates) served 

 them both for table and seat, where they indulged them- 

 selves amply in their favourite food, and quaffed many a 

 can of grog to his poor souPs rest ! 



On the 20th May, in the morning, discovered the two 

 whale-boats returning with Mr. Adams from the island they 

 had been sent to survey. As I was apprehensive that they 

 had exhausted their stock of water, T despatched a boat with 

 a supply, which proved very acceptable, as they had been 

 eighteen hours without any. Mr. Adams informed me 

 that he had made a complete survey of the island, and had 

 determined the latitude and longitude of the principal 

 points ; but that, on the most careful examination, he had 

 not been able to find either good anchorage or fresh water. 

 He stated that it abounded in wood, and that land-tortoises 

 and green turtle were in the greatest abundance, the for- 

 mer generally of an enormous size, one of which measured 

 five feet and a half long, four feet and a half wide, and three 

 feet thick, and others were found by some of the seamen 

 of a larger size. From this island, James', Albemarle, 

 Norfolk, Barrington, Grossman's, Charles', and many others, 

 were to be seen; but he could perceive none that bore 

 the slightest resemblance, in position or appearance, to those 

 called, by captain Colnet, Duncan's and Jarvis' Islands. 

 As this island was now destitute of a name, and he could 



