PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
221 
N., the wind from the south, with a strong current ripple, which 
induced me to believe the current had shifted, gave me strong 
hopes of fetching the islands, and with this view I made all sail, 
but was soon compelled to heave to for the prizes, and particu¬ 
larly the New Zealander, which in a short time was run out of 
sight. The short sail I was compelled to keep under occasioned 
considerable delay, which, added to the current, which we still 
found setting to the west, prevented my making the land until 
the 27th, when we saw the north part of Narborough, bearing 
S.E. \ E. Being considerably a-head of the prizes, I ran into 
Banks’ bay, and on satisfying myself there were no vessels there, 
ran out to meet the prizes, and bore away in company with them 
for the north-east part of Albemarle, intending to proceed to 
James’ island to make myself acquainted with its resources, and 
to search for English whalers, as it is said to be much frequented 
by them, for the purpose of taking in land tortoises and refitting 
their ships, the harbour having the reputation of being the best 
among the Gallapagos islands. At midnight the north head bore 
S. by W., and Rodondo W.N.W. At 7 o’clock on the morning 
of the 28th, discovered a strange sail to the eastward, and, on 
viewing her with my spy-glass from the top-gallant yard, she ap¬ 
peared to be close on a wind under her to,Ugsails, with fresh 
breezes, while our ships were lying nearly becalmed, with a 
strong current setting us with great rapidity for Rodondo, which 
bore of us W. by S. A light air, however, springing up from the 
westward, we made all sail in chase ; but the rapidity of the cur¬ 
rent was so great, that we soon lost sight of the stranger, and at 
meridian we were driven so close to Rodondo, that we entertained 
the most lively apprehensions for the safety of the ship ; and even 
with the assistance of our drags, which w'ere plied with their 
utmost power, and a smart breeze which fortunately sprung up at 
the most critical moment, it was with some considerable difficulty 
we escaped getting on shore on it; and as the sea was beating 
with great violence against its perpendicular and inaccessible 
sides, this apprehension was calculated to produce reflections 
of no very agreeable nature. 
