174 
PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
much resembling spinage, and so called by our people ; likewise 
various other pot-herbs, and prickly pears in great abundance? 
which were not only of an excellent flavour, but a sovereign anti- 
scorbutic ; and it afforded me much pleasure to observe that 
they were much relished by our people. 
The cotton plant was found growing spontaneously, and a tree 
of a very aromatic flavour and taste, and indeed was no other than 
the one formerly mentioned, found on the island of Albemarle, 
and producing in large quantities a resinous substance. This 
Mr. Adams declared was the alcornoque, so famous for the cure 
of consumptions, and is probably the same as that mentioned by 
Colnet, and called by him the algarrooa. 
The only quadrupeds found on the island were tortoises, 
lizards, and a few sea guanas; the land guana was not to be 
found. Doves peculiar to those islands, of a small size, and very 
beautiful plumage, were very numerous, and afforded great 
amusement to the younger part of the crew in killing them with 
sticks and stones, which was no ways difficult, as they were very 
tame. The English mocking-bird was also found in great num¬ 
bers, and a small black bird, with a remarkably short ^nd strong 
bill, and a shrill note ; those were the only birds except aquatic 
found here; the latter were not numerous, and consisted of teal, 
which frequented a lagoon on the east part of the bay, pelicans, 
boobies, and other birds common to all the islands of those seas ; 
sea turtles and seals were scarce and shy. 
Thkt every person might-be employed to the most advantage, 
I directed that those having charge of prizes should paint them, 
and otherwise put them in good order, as to appearance, in the 
expectation that they would bring a higher price among the 
Spaniards, to whom I intended offering them for sale the first op¬ 
portunity. They were noble ships, and a little paint added great- 
ly to the beauty of their appearance. I also recommended to 
captain Randall to change as much as possible the paint and ap¬ 
pearance of his ship, in order that we might not be traced by her, 
as she was well known on this coast The appearance of the Essex 
had been so frequently changed, that I had but little apprehen¬ 
sions of her being known again by those who had seen her be- 
