PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
19 i 
yet we considered it the most valuable part of our prize to us. It 
is not improbable, that, after heavy rains, vessels may be enabled 
to procure, as we did, a supply from the hollows of the rocks at 
Charles’ Island ; therefore it may not be unnecessary to describe 
the place, in order that it may be found with more ease. 
At each end of the longest beach, or landing-place, opposite 
the anchorage, in Essex bay, is a deep ravine, formed by the tor¬ 
rents of water which come, during the heavy rains, from the 
mountains, and are bedded with a hard and porous kind of rock 
or lava. We ascended each of those, to the distance of from one 
and a half to two miles, where we found small hollows, contain¬ 
ing, some half a barrel, and others more, but seldom any that 
contained more than six or seven barrels; but, as incredible as it 
may appear to those who may hereafter visit this island, and see 
the difficulties of approaching this strange watering-place, we 
took from thence to the ship, in three days, about 70 barrels of 
water, besides a considerable quantity in kegs and jugs belonging 
to individuals, and considered as a private stock, amounting in all, 
perhaps, to 10 or 12 barrels more. 
It may also be necessary to describe more particularly the 
route to the spring, in order that it may be found by those who 
have not been there before. On the west part of the island, about 
six miles from Essex Bay, is a dark sandy beach, called by the 
whalers, by wav of distinction, the Black Beach, opposite to which 
is an anchorage for vessels, though much exposed to the prevalent 
winds, and to a heavy swell which is setting in there, and I have 
reason to believe the bottom is foul, therefore do not consider it 
by any means a safe anchorage ; from the aforesaid beach is a 
pathway, much trodden, which leads directly to the springs; and 
this pathway once found, there can be no difficulty in finding the 
springs, which are about three miles distant from the shore, and 
where an abundance of water was to be had when we were there. 
The road here is the best in the island, though in many places 
steep and difficult. 
The hints already given, intended chiefiy for those who may 
be in pursuit of whalers, may also be of some service to whalers 
themselves ; but as my transactions about these islands have put 
