PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
41 
the rock on which the citadel is placed, and it is with the utmost 
difficulty and danger that the casks can be got through the surf 
to the boat. The island produces wood in abundance, but the 
Portuguese do not permit it to be cut for shipping any where, but 
on a small island to the east of Fernando, called Wooding Island. 
This island is in tolerable good cultivation, and produces their 
principal supply of vegetables. There is no boat in the island, 
and the only means of communication between Wooding Island 
and Fernando, is a small raft or catamaran, which is carefully kept 
in one of the forts, and is capable of bearing only two men. An 
abundance of fish may be procured with but little trouble with the 
hook and line. 
As clothing is not in use here; as hunger may be gratified 
without labour; and afc there is an appearance of cheerfulness, 
those who are not in chains may be supposed, in some measure, 
reconciled to a state as good perhaps as any they had formerly 
been accustomed to. 
The governor caused his catamaran to be launched through a 
surf (which twice filled our boat, and was near destroying her), 
and dispatched it to Wooding Island for fruit for us, but before 
she returned we had left this miserable Botany Bay of Portugal. 
A rise of tide was perceptible here of about 5 feet. The only 
anchoring place is near the citadel. 
After leaving Fernando de Noronha we kept close on a wind, 
for fear of not being able to weather the coast of Brazils, as well 
as with a view of falling in with the track of vessels from Porto 
Plate and Rio Janeiro ; when abreast the coast of Pernambuco, 
although at the distance of 60 leagues, we found the weather ex- 
tremely sultry and oppressive, so much so, as to produce an un¬ 
common degree of lassitude, which it was almost impossible to 
overcome. I therefore considered it advisable to keep the crew 
as free from exercise as possible, and out of the sun, with a view 
of preserving their health, which, to this time, was as good as 
ever. Our sick list was as follows; 
Thomas Ewing, sprained ancle 
Joseph Andrews, sprained ancle 
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VOL. I, 
