portefJs journal. 



219 



the purpose of sucking the moisture from the rock ; and, 

 hy a closer examination, I discovered that beneath this 

 place a small and rude basin had been formed in the rock, 

 for the purpose of catching the drops of water, which per- 

 haps at certain seasons of the year trickle down the side of 

 the clitf. At the time I visited the place the basin was 

 perfectly dry ; and I should not have known the purpose 

 for which it was intended, had I not noticed the marks of a 

 pickaxe, or some other iron instrument, in the rock. Of 

 these places captain Coioet, in his view of James' Island, 

 gives the following description : 



Round the northwest point is a small bay, which I take 

 for the one the buccaniers call Fresh-water Bay, in which 

 were many of their traces, such as old jars, &;c. ; also ground 

 cleared away, either as a platform for guns, or to land stores, 

 &c. ; but the water since then has taken a diiferent course, 

 and falls down between two hills, and runs over a little 

 clift of rocks into the sea." 



As soon as the ship was secured, I set out with Mr. 

 Sharp to search for water in Fresh-water Bay, where the 

 buccaniers had formerly supplied themselves, but the surf 

 prevented us from landing. We rowed close to the beach, 

 but saw not the least signs of any spring or rivulet. Boats 

 were despatched from both vessels to different parts of the 

 shore, and my chief mate was sent away to the south for a 

 night and a day. On the following morning, at the dawa 

 of day, the whaling-master was ordered to land if the surf 

 was fallen, and search Fresh-water Bay. He accomphshed 

 getting on shore, but found no water ; in the evening the 

 chief mate returned with the same account of his unsuc- 

 cessful errand. For my own part, I never gave up my 

 opinion, that there was plenty of fresh water in the isle ; 

 but as neither of my boats were in a condition to encounter 

 the least bad weather, I deferred taking a survey of the 

 isle till they were repaired,''— Co/^ze^'^ Journals pagt 153. 



" These isles deserve the attention of the British naviga- 

 tors beyond any unsettled situation ; but the preference 

 must be given to James' Isle, as it is the only one we found 

 sufficient fresh water at to supply a small ship." — -Colnet's 

 Journal, page 158. 



It seems from captain Colnet's account, that his princi- 

 pal motive for goin<r to James' Island was to accompany 



