PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
2'52 
of birds ; also trees of a considerable size, which would afford 
wood for shipping, and among them a species from which oozed 
a resinous substance, in very large quantities, dripping from the 
trunk and every limb. This tree produces a fruit nearly as large 
as a cherry ; but it was then green, and had a very aromatic smell 
and taste. From the bason we proceeded to the south, in search 
of the watering-place, and after rowing close along a rocky shore, 
about two miles, without discovering it, concluded to return, and 
land in every place where there was the least probability of 
finding it, although I was satisfied in my own mind, that, had one 
existed, it would have been impracticable to water at it, in con¬ 
sequence of the violence of the surf, which beats with such force 
against the rocks as to endanger the safety of the boat, although 
the sea appeared unusually calm. On our return we perceived a 
little moisture on a flat rock about half a mile from the mouth of 
the bason, and with much difficulty I succeeded in landing, which 
I found to be the watering-place we were in search of. In this 
rock I found four holes, each about 14 inches square^ and from 
6 to 7 deep, which had apparently been cut by some person with 
a pick-axe, for the purpose of catching the water as it dripped 
from the rocks above. At this time they contained only a little 
stinking water, as salt as brine, which had been thrown in by the 
sea. I caused them to be cleared out, but could not perceive, 
during the hour that I remained there, that any water whatever 
flowed into them, and I am persuaded that no water can ever be 
found there, except after heavy rains, and then only in small quan¬ 
tities, for the whole island is a light and thirsty soil, composed 
entirely of volcanic matter, and probably owes its origin to no dis¬ 
tant period, for the volcanic cinders and other appearances lying 
on every part of the surface, as well as the innumerable craters, 
and hills composed of ashes and lava, all apparently fresh, and 
in most parts destitute of verdure, sufficiently prove that they 
have not long been thrown from the bowels of the ocean* 
These thirsty mountains, like a sponge, soak from the passing 
clouds the moisture which serves to keep alive the scanty vege¬ 
tation scattered over their sides ; but they permit none of it to es¬ 
cape in springs or streams of water, for the support of animal 
