PORTER'S JOUB.NAL. 



coast of Chili. This island was supposed to be the more 

 suitable for our purpose, as it was represented as very high, 

 and affording an extensive view of the horizon. Every ex- 

 ertion was therefore made to reach this desirable spot, 

 which began to show itself above the horizon, bearing 

 southeast, as soon as we had stretched out of the bay. On 

 the evening of the 16th we weathered the island of La Pla- 

 ta, which appeared on every part perpendicular and inac- 

 cessible, the surf beating with great violence on the south 

 and west sides. On the summit were thinly scattered 

 prickly pear and other bushes, and off the south side stood 

 a few rocks or islets, or rather detached pieces of the island, 

 for they had been evidently separated therefrom by the sea 

 breaking through. We ran along about two miles to wind- 

 ward of the island, and had twenty-five fathoms, coarse 

 gravel and shells ; and as it was too late to give it an exami- 

 nation that night, kept between that and the continent 

 (from which it is distant about five leagues) until the morn- 

 ing, having soundings in from twenty-two to twenty-five 

 fathoms. While standing in for the island, and at the dis- 

 tance of from three to five leagues from it, we saw innume- 

 rable shoals of spermaceti whales, all going v/ith great ra- 

 pidity to the northwest ; and the whalers on board assured 

 me, that they never before had seen them in such numbers 

 together. Their keeping so close together, and their ra- 

 pid movements, they said, was a certain sign of their hav» 

 ing been lately pursued, either by whalers, or by a fish 

 very destructive to them, called the whale-killer. When 

 we got on soundings, inside the island, we were surrounded 

 by an equal number of that kind of whale called the fin- 

 back. At daylight I ran in for La Plata, until I supposed 

 myself within two miles of it, when I hove to. A small 

 sail was discovered to the eastward, in chase of which I 

 sent the Atlantic and Greenwich ; then took two whale- 

 boats, and proceeded to examine the island, giving direc- 

 tions to the Essex to lie off and on until my return» I soon 

 found I had been deceived in estimation of my distance 

 from the island, for, on my arrival there, I could scarcely 

 see the ships. On the east side I found a soft, white, sandy 

 beach, with smooth water, and every appearance of good 

 anchorage and shelter. On sounding within musket shot 

 of the shore, could get no bottom with twenty-two fathoms 



