216 



porter's journal. 



American striped snake, and a great number of lizards* In 

 the bottom of the crater of the northern mountain, near the 

 foot of which we landed, some of my sailors, who had been 

 there in search of tortoises, informed me, that they had 

 found one barrel of fresh water contained in the hollow of 

 a rock. This is the only fresh water we saw on any part 

 of the island, and it cannot be come at without the greatest 

 difficulty and danger, which none would attempt to over- 

 come but such as, hke our sailors, had been long confined 

 on shipboard. Feeling all restraint removed while on 

 shore, they dehghted in making an extensive range, and in 

 overcoming difficulties which to others appeared insur- 

 mountable. From this place we procured about seventy- 

 live tortoises ; but as the men had to bring them from a 

 distance not less than three miles, and as the fatigue was 

 excessive, this was the only time we visited it. The parties 

 which went to the northeast part of the island were more 

 successful, and gave a more favourable account of the fa- 

 cility of getting them down to the beach. They reported, 

 also, that there was every appearance of good anchorage 

 on the northeast, in a bay not inferior in its appearance to 

 the one we were then occupying. Mr. Adams, with his 

 usual zeal, proceeded to sound and survey it, and reported 

 anchorage about half a mile from the shore, in thirteen 

 fathoms, sandy bottom. I'his bay was distant from where 

 we lay about eighteen miles. I gave it the name of Adams' 

 Bay. 



I proceeded to examine Fresh-water Bay, and Fresh-wa- 

 ter Valley, as they are called by Colnet. In the former 

 there are appearances of anchorage. We found great 

 quantities of broken jars, such as the Spaniards transport 

 their liquids in ; a deep ravine, evidently formed by violent 

 torrents ; but it was perfectly dry, and had the appearance 

 of having long been so. Three separate times I examined 

 Fresh-water Valley, when we first arrived, and twice after 

 showers of rain ; but all my researches were ineffectual, al- 

 though I traced the ravine of this place to the top of the 

 mountain. While I was about embarking to return, I per- 

 ceived three or four small birds, of the size of a sparrow, 

 fluttering about a moist place, on the side of a cHfF, over 

 my head. On farther observation, I perceived that the 

 small birds of this description constantly resorted here for 



