m 
PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
rels of water lodged in the different hollows of the rocks, about a 
mile and a half from the shore ; that the difficulties of getting to 
it were very great, but they did not doubt that each man would 
be enabled to bring down, in ten-gallon kegs, forty gallons per 
day. I immediately caused casks to be landed, and, by sending 
parties on shore daily, procured while we lay here two thousand 
gallons, much of it, to be sure, of a filthy appearance, having a 
bad taste and smell, and filled abundantly with slime and insects; 
but to us it was a treasure too precious to lose, and the greatest 
industry was used to save every drop of it, for fear that the sun, 
which was evaporating it rapidly, should cheat us of our prize. 
In order that no means should be left untried to procure a 
large supply of water, I caused two wells to be dug in the most 
likely places for finding it; but, after digging a considerable depth, 
salt water flowed in, and disappointed our hopes. I also sent on 
shore a wooding party, which soon procured us as large a supply 
of fuel as we stood in need of. 
Early in the morning of the third day of our arrival, a sail 
was discovered to the westward, standing in for the island. I im¬ 
mediately caused preparation to be made for sending the boats 
after her, as the wind was very light; but on her nearer approach, 
when she made her private signal, discovered it to be the Geor- 
giana. Her arrival, although unexpected, gave me much plea¬ 
sure ; and on lieutenant Downes coming on board, he informed 
me, that, on doubling the S.W. part of the island which we had 
supposed to be James’, he had discovered several other small 
islands, and had experienced rapid currents, which had put the 
safety of his ship in jeopardy, as they had swept him very near to 
a high rock, which lies in a passage of about two miles wide, 
formed by the S.W. part of the island and another smaller island. 
He had felt the same embarrassments as myself with respect to 
the island, and it was with no little difficulty that he extricated 
himself from the dangers of rocks and breakers, with which he 
was environed in this unknown navigation; but, after getting clear 
of them, and finding himself in the neighbourhood of Charles’ 
Island, he had determined to look in there before going to Albe~ 
