CHAPTER VI. 
THE GALLAPAGOS ISLANDS ; PRIZES, 
On our first making Chatham Island, which bore, on the 
morning of the 17th, N.W. by N., distant about 35 miles, I sup¬ 
posed it to be Hood’s Island, a common stopping-place for 
whalers ; and as this was one of the islands I was desirous of exa¬ 
mining for them, I hauled in for it, making a signal for the Bar¬ 
clay to do the same j but shortly afterwards discovered Hood’s 
Island bearing west, and bore away for it. At 7 o’clock in the 
evening, we were abreast the anchorage place on the N.W. part 
of the island, which is a good shelter from the prevalent winds ; 
and a small island which lies off forms a secure bay, where ves¬ 
sels lie at anchor in 12 fathoms water, clear white sandy bottom. 
Here wood is to be obtained, and land tortoises in great numbers, 
which are highly esteemed for their excellence, and are remark¬ 
able for their size, weighing from 3 to 400 weight each. Ves¬ 
sels on whaling voyages among these islands generally take on 
board from 2 to 300 of these animals, and stow them in the hold, 
where, strange as it may appear, they have been known to live for 
a year, without food or water, and, when killed at the expiration 
of that time, found greatly improved in fatness and flavour. Into 
this bay I sent lieut. Downes with a whale-boat (I had purchased 
from capt. Randall) properly armed, to reconnoitre, and directed 
him to make a signal on discovering vessels, in order that we 
might send in our other boats ; but at 10 o’clock he returned^ 
after having sounded the bay without seeing any. We had en¬ 
tertained strong hopes of meeting enemies’ vessels here, but bore 
the disappointment better than might be expected, considering 
the length of time that has elapsed since we have seen one of that 
description. We now hauled off toward Chatham Island, and 
lay to for the night, as I did not think it prudent to run for 
Charles’ Island, the next place I intended to visit, until I could 
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