porter's journal. 



tressed state. The island produces potatoes, yams, plan- 

 tains, bananas, cocoa-nuts, taro, water-melons, lemons, 

 limes, oranges, he. &;c. in abundance. 



At 4 P. M. of the 22d, the ship standing to the west, be- 

 tween the islands of Otaheite and Emao, a canoe came 

 alongside, with an answer from the resident British Mission- 

 aries, to a letter Captain Tucker had previously sent them ; 

 and with a notification of their intention to visit the ship. 

 But the Captain kept on his course, and the Society Islands 

 were soon out of sight. On the 25th, at 9 A. M. all hands 

 were mustered to witness the punishment of the deserter, 

 King, who received three dozen lashes for the pains he had 

 taken to quit his king's service at Otaheite. 



From the 23d of August until the arrival of the Cherub 

 at Valparaiso, on the 23d of September following, nothing 

 of material interest transpired. In approaching the coast, 

 the thermometer fell gradually to 5G\ and on the 20th of 

 September, the water became deeply tinged, and many 

 aquatic birds flew about the ship. Captain Tucker entered 

 the port of Valparaiso under the American ensign and pen- 

 dant, and with ' Free trade and sailors' rights' at his 

 foremast head. As the ship drew near, heut. Gamble was 

 extremely disappointed at seeing the old Spanish flag dis- 

 played in the forts 5 but a boat soon came alongside, with the 

 agreeable intelligence, that the patriots were still advan- 

 cing in their great work, and intended shortly again to 

 hoist their own flag. The viceroy of Peru had refused to 

 sanction the preliminaries of peace, drawn up by Captain 

 Hillyar, between the governments of Peru and Chili, 

 chiefly because by one of the articles, the Patriots were 

 required to receive all foreign vessels under the Royal flag. 

 As soon as the governor and citizens of Valparaiso descried 

 the American colours on board the Cherub, they believed 

 her to be a ship of that nation, and became highly animated 

 with the idea of so welcome a visiter ; but on seeing them 

 replaced by the British flag, their countenances suddenly 

 fell, and every thing betokened the deepest chagrin. Be- 

 sides several Spanish vessels, there were lying here at this 

 time, the Sir Andrew Hammond, the Charon, an English 

 brig, and the Montezuma, one of the prizes to the Essex. 

 The two first had arrived 34 days previous, from the Sand- 

 wich Islands, and lieut. Gamble had once more the pleasure 



