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PORTER*S JOURNAl^* 



the best of my men. Every arrangement being made, the 

 Georgiana left us on the 25th of July, giving us a salute 

 and three cheers at her departure. We had an opportu- 

 nity, by this vessel, of writing to our friends, and enjoyed, 

 in pleasing anticipation, the eifect that the news of our 

 great success would produce in the United States. 



We had now got drifted as far to the westward as longi- 

 tude 9r 15' west; our latitude at noon of the 25th, was V 

 8' 25" north, the wind from the south, with a strong current 

 ripple. This induced me to believe the current had shift- 

 ed, and gave me strong hopes of fetching the islands. With 

 this view I made all sail, but was soon compelled to heave 

 to for the prizes, and particularly the New Zealander, which 

 in a short time was run out of sight. The short sail I was 

 compelled to keep under occasioned considerable delay, 

 which, added to the current we still found setting to the west, 

 prevented my making the land until the 27th, when we saw 

 the north part of Narborough, bearing S. E. half Ei Be- 

 ing considerably ahead of the prizes, 1 ran into Bank's Bay, 

 and on satisfying myself there were no vessels there, came 

 out to meet the prizes, and bore away in company with them 

 for the northeast part of Albemarle, intending to pro- 

 ceed to James' Island, to make myself acquainted with its 

 resources, and to search for English whalers. It is said to 

 be much frequented by them, for the purpose of taking in 

 land tortoises and refitting their ships, the harbour having 

 the reputation of being the best among the Gallipagos Islands. 

 At midnight the north head bore S. by W., and Rodondo 

 W. N. W. At seven o'clock on the morning of the 28th, 

 discovered a strange sail to the eastward, and, on viewing 

 her with my spyglass from the top-galiant-yard, she ap- 

 peared to be close on a wind under her topsails, with fresh 

 breezes, while our ships were lying nearly becalmed, with 

 a strong current setting us with gieat rapidity for Rodondo, 

 which bore W. by S. A light air, however, springing up 

 from the westward, we made all sail in chase ; but the ra- 

 pidity of the current was so great, that we soon lost sight of 

 the stranger, and at meridian we were driven so close to 

 Rodondo, that we entertained the most lively apprehen- 

 , sions for the safety of the ship. With the assistance of our 

 drags, which were plied with their utmost power, and a 

 smart breeze, which fortunately sprang up at the most cri* 



