PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
149 
iween what is called the Turtle’s Nose of Narborough and the 
North Head, without once being swept out; but should it so hap¬ 
pen that they are drifted out beyond the projecting points, and 
fall into the northern currents, they are sometimes a month, and 
even more, before they can recover their stations ; and it some¬ 
times happens that the whole fleet, which generally consists of 15 
or 20 sail, are driven as far north as the latitude of 2°, and are un¬ 
able to return until the current changes. A knowledge of this 
now caused great uneasiness in my mind. I had formed the most 
sanguine expectations of meeting with great success here, and 
every thing seeme.d to justify them, but still I could not resist 
those anxious feelings, which cannot be repelled at such moments. 
We had all along calculated on reaping a rich harvest from the 
enemy at the Gallapagos Islands ; it was the constant subject of 
our conversation and solicitude, and every scheme was adopted 
that could prove likely to secure to us every vessel in the bay, 
and we did not calculate on a number less than 10 or 12 ; indeed 
we calculated on making more prizes there than we could man, 
and hoped to be thus indemnified for all loss of time, fatigues, 
and anxieties. For my own part, I felt the utmost desire to know 
the result of our visit to the Gallapagos, and at the same time a 
dread of a disappointment, which, although possible, I did not be¬ 
lieve probable ; however, the anxiety to know as soon as possible 
our success or disappointment, induced me to dispatch lieut. 
Downes to take a look around the point of Narborough, and re¬ 
connoitre the bay; for the ships had been swept by the current, 
during the night, into Elizabeth Bay ; and, as the wind was very 
light, we made very little head way s but in the course of the day, 
it sprung up a breeze from the southward, with which we en¬ 
deavoured to beat around Narborough against a strong current; 
but toward night it died away, and in a few hours we lost as much 
ground as we had gained through the day. 
At 1 o’clock in the morning, lieut. Downes returned to the 
ship, which he was enabled to find by means of flashes made from 
time to time by us, and reported that he did not arrive at the 
north point of Narborough or Turtle’s Nose, until near sundown, 
and that he could perceive no vessels in the bay; but observed, at 
