PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
1 77 
1 should have mentioned before, that Mr. Adams, on the 
night of his return from Porter’s island, fell in with a ship, which 
he passed at the distance of gun-shot from her ; she bore much 
the appearance of an English vessel, had a tier of guns, and was 
bound toward Albemarle ; in consequence of which, I determined 
to run down for Banks’ bay to look for her, should the current 
haye proved against our getting to the southward ; for I not only 
hoped, by so doing, to secure a valuable prize, but expected to be 
enabled to get a supply of water from her, which was what we 
now stood more in need of than any other article whatever. 
On obtaining the above information from Mr. Adams, I be¬ 
lieved it probable that we should be enabled to see the stranger 
from some one of the adjacent hills; under this expectation I 
landed on the western point of the bay, and, in company with 
lieutenant Gamble of the marines, and Mr. Shaw, purser, pro¬ 
ceeded to ascend a high and rugged mountain there situated, 
which did not appear to us to be a difficult task to attempt; but 
we were soon convinced of our error, for it was not without great 
labour and fatigue, and at the risk of our lives, that we succeed¬ 
ed in reaching the top of it, after crawling through thorn-bushes, 
wounding ourselves by the prickly pear-trees, and scrambling 
over the loose lava, which tore our shoes, and was every moment 
giving way under us. We at length, however, arrived, exhaust¬ 
ed with thirst, heat, and fatigue, at the summit, where we had 
an extensive view of the islands, but could perceive no vessels in 
the offing. Our descent was no less hazardous ; and on our way 
back we found a large tortoise, which we opened with some diffi¬ 
culty, with the hope of finding some water to allay our thirst; 
but we were disappointed in only finding a few gills, of a disa¬ 
greeable-tasted liquid, but little better than urine ; this our sto¬ 
machs revolted at; we therefore had recourse to sucking the leaf 
of the prickly pear, which we found to serve our purpose. 
Prior to my departure, I left the following letter for Mr. 
Downes, buried in a bottle at the foot of the stake to which the 
letter-box was attached. 
VOL. i. 
Z 
