176 



sorter's journal. 



hekr east) had favoured us, now left us, and an adverse cur- 

 rent, equally strong, rendered all our exertions to get to the 

 southward ineffectual. Nothing was left for us but to bear 

 away, and endeavour to get around to the northward of the 

 islands. During the calms which succeeded the light and 

 variable winds we had for the three last days experienced, 

 I took the opportunity of getting an anchor and cable, and 

 three thousand five hundred gallons of water, from the At- 

 lantic and Greenwich, as well as a supply of tortoises, and 

 such other articles as we stood immediately in want of. 



The Greenwich proved to be the vessel that had been 

 seen by Mr. Adams, and the Atlantic the one that had ta- 

 ken from Charles' Island the barrel of water and bread. 

 This the captain informed me was done with a view of pre- 

 venting his men from deserting, a circumstance which he 

 greatly apprehended, while they could be certain of finding 

 a supply of those articles on the island. 



It seems somewhat extraordinary, that British seamen 

 should carry with them this propensity to desert even into 

 merchant vessels, sailing under the flag of their nation, and 

 under circumstances so terrifying. But yet I am informed 

 that their desertion while at Charles' Island has been very 

 common, even when there was no prospect whatever of 

 obtaining water but from the bowels of the tortoises. This 

 can only be attributed to that tyranny so prevalent on 

 board their ships of war, which has crept into their mer- 

 chant vessels, and is there aped by their commanders. 

 Now mark the difference. While the Essex lay at Charles' 

 Island, one fourth of her crew was every day on shore, and 

 all the prisoners who chose to go ; I even lent the latter 

 boats, whenever they wished it, to go for their amusement 

 to the other side of the island. No one attempted to de- 

 sert, or to make his escape; whenever a gun was fired 

 every man repaired to the beach, and no one was ever miss- 

 ing when the signal was made. 



On the 6th June we were abreast the island of Narbo- 

 rough, and in the afternoon saw a thick column of smoke 

 rising rapidly as from its centre, ascending to a great height 

 in the air, where it spread off in large white curls, and pre- 

 sented us a grand and majestic spectacle. We soon dis- 

 covered that one of the numerous volcanoes had burst 

 forth ; but there were various opinions as to its situation^, 



