2 



porter's journal. 



were founded on a firm belief that the Mary-Ann, the ship 

 left by Mr. Downes at Valparaiso, would touch at those 

 islands on her way to India. The cause of this belief was, 

 that the captain of that ship had frequently declared, in 

 the presence of Mr. Downes, his intention of going round 

 Cape Horn, and the fact that she was short of fire-wood, 

 an article that could not be procured at Valparaiso with- 

 out paying very high for it, which was what the captain 

 of that vessel did not seem disposed to do. Added to thisj 

 there was an American captain at Valparaiso of consider- 

 able intelligence, who had lately made a voyage to China 

 from that port, had touched at the island of St. Christiana 

 (one of the Marquesas) in his passage there, and had sup- 

 plied himself abundantly with refreshments and wood, as 

 he had also done in a former voyage. Between this gen- 

 tleman and the English captain a considerable degree of 

 intimacy subsisted, and I felt satisfied that his advice would 

 be for him to take that route, and touch there. This ad- 

 vice I had no doubt of his following, for I could not per- 

 suade myself that any person would be so mad as to brave 

 the tempestuous seas of Cape Horn to go to India, when 

 it was in his power to proceed the whole way with fine 

 winds and pleasant weather. I consequently believed, 

 that the declarations made in the presence of lieutenant 

 Downes were purposely to mislead that oflicer. Under 

 the impression, therefore, that he would touch at St. Chris- 

 tiana, I directed lieutenant Downes to proceed there, and 

 afterwards join me at Port Anna Maria, in the Island of 

 Nooaheevah, one of the Washington Islands, which place I 

 also appointed as a rendezvous for all the other vessels, in 

 case of separation. Lieutenant Downes consequently 

 made all sail, and at sunset was out of sight ahead. 



From the time of the departure of lieutenant Downes 

 until the 23d October, when we made the island of 

 Teebooa, one of the group of the Marquesas, few circum- 

 stances of any moment took place. The weather through- 

 out the passage was remarkably pleasant, gradually increa- 

 sing in temperature as we increased our distance from 

 the Gallapagoes ; but the heat was unaccompanied by 

 squalls, thunder and lightning, or rain. Two of my pri- 

 soners, at the time of making land, were slightly affected 

 \vii}\ the scurvy ; but (with the exception of these) we 



