200 
PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
and other parts of Peru, as well as those from the coast of Chili; 
and this island was supposed to be. the more suitable for our-pur¬ 
pose, as it was represented as very high, and affording an exten¬ 
sive view of the horizon Every exertion was therefore made to 
reach this desirable spot, which began to shew itself above the ho¬ 
rizon, bearing S.E., as soon as we had stretched out of the bay. 
On the evening of the 16th, we weathered the Island of La Plata, 
which appeared on every part perpendicular and inaccessible, the 
surf beating with great violence on the south and west sides. On 
the summit were thinly scattered prickly pear and other bushes, 
and off the south side stood a few rocks or islets, or rather detach¬ 
ed pieces of the island, for they had been evidently separated there¬ 
from by the sea breaking through. We ran along about two miles 
to windward of the island, and had 25 fathoms, coarse gravel and 
shells ; and as it was too late to give it an examination that night, 
kept between that and the continent (from which it is distant about 
5 leagues) until the morning, having soundings in from 22 to 25 
fathoms. While standing in for the island, and at the distance 
of from 3 to 5 leagues from it, we saw innumerable shoals of sper¬ 
maceti whales, all going with great rapidity to the N.W.; and the 
whalers on board assured me, that they never before had seen 
them in such numbers together. Their keeping so close toge¬ 
ther, and their rapid movements, they said, was a certain sign of 
their having been lately pursued, either by whalers, or by a fish 
very destructive to them, called the whale-killer : and when we 
got on soundings, inside the island, we were surrounded by an 
equal number of that kind of whale called the fin-back. At day¬ 
light I ran in for La Plata, until I supposed myself within two 
miles of it, when I hove Jo. A small sail was discovered to the 
eastward, in chace of which I sent the Atlantic and Greenwich ; 
then took two whale-boats, and proceeded to examine the island, 
giving directions for the Essex to lie off and on until my return. 
I soon found I had been deceived in estimation of my distance 
from the island, for, on my arrival there, I could scarcely see the 
ships. On the east side, I found a soft, white, sandy beach, with 
smooth water, and every appearance of good anchorage and shel¬ 
ter ; but on sounding within musket shot of the shore, could get 
