PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
24 
board or drinking- it. They sometimes draw the milk from tfeci 
cocoa-nut, fill it with rum, and sell them to the seamen in thal 
state at a high price. The first day we were employed in water¬ 
ing, we had several men drunk; but after that we were more for¬ 
tunate, as I selected the most trusty men to fill and roll the casks 
to the beach, with directions to make a signal when they were 
ready to tow-off; by this means, we prevented our boats’ crews 
from having any communication with the shore. A similar pre¬ 
caution was used in getting our supplies of fruit on board ; they 
were brought to the beach by the negroes, and, on a signal being 
made, boats were sent for them. I should advise ships that in¬ 
tend getting any considerable supplies of water, to employ negroes 
altogether for filling the casks, and rolling them down to the beach, 
as it would entirely prevent the necessity of exposing the men, 
either to the inclemency of the sun, or the temptations held out 
to them. 
The watering-place is a well at the back of the town, in a vaL 
ley, and the only place from whence the inhabitants receive their 
supply. 
On our arrival at Port Praya, our sick list consisted of Holmes, 
Klaer, and Hazen; but on the day of our departure there were 
nine patients on it; three from accidents, and three with inflama¬ 
tory bilious fevers t this was one cause of my hastening from 
thence before I had completed filling my water, as I was fearful 
of introducing disease among the crew. None of the last selected 
watering-party on shore were in the slightest degree affected by 
the climate, although employed from day-light in the morning, 
until late at night; they were, however, shaded a considerable part 
of the time by the groves of cocoa-nut trees that grow between 
the landing-place and the well, and they were not compelled to 
work in the middle of the day; added to this, those employed 
after the first day were very temperate, and not known, to enter 
into any excesses. 
On hauling around the east point of Port Praya, it is ne¬ 
cessary to keep close in with the rocks, at the distance of a cable 
or a cable and a half, as the current sets strong to the westward^ 
and the wind is generally variable and scant, and without this pre~ 
