PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
iJO 
I deferred taking a survey of the isle till they were repaired.” 
Colne? s Journal, page 153. 
“These isles deserve the attention of the British navigators 
beyond any unsettled situation : but the preference must /be given 
to James’ isle, as it is the only one we found sufficient fresh water 
at to supply a small ship.” Colne?s Journal , page 158. 
It seems from captain Colnet’s account, that his principal 
motive for going to James’ island was to accompany an English 
ship called the Butterworth, commanded by a Mr. Sharp, whom 
he accidentally met off Banks’ bay in distress for want of water ; 
and that he persuaded Mr. Sharp to proceed to this place, where 
he was confident he would procure a supply ; but as he did not 
find it immediately on his arrival, he sent the Butterworth daily 
supplies of that article, which produced a consequence captain 
Colnet little apprehended, for from that moment Mr. Sharp ne¬ 
glected to look for water. Captain Colnet, it seems, from civility 
to the owners of that ship, had determined to keep company with 
her during the voyage, afkl to give her only a monthly supply ; 
and this information, it appears, stimulated Mr. Sharp to search 
for water, which he found within two miles of his ship. Now it 
seems extraordinary that the place where so important a discovery 
was made, should not have been pointed out by captain Colnet. 
I have, however, reason to doubt the correctness of his statement? 
as I have carefully examined James’ island for fresh water, and 
so have many others of my officers and crew, for at least 12 
miles to the southward of our anchorage, and as much as 6 miles 
to the northward ; indeed several have searched to the north-east 
18 or 20 miles, and none of us yet have been able to discover 
any of that precious article, except the small damp place on the 
cliff at Fresh-water valley, and the small quantity in the bottom of 
the crater of the aforementioned mountain. It is true, he might have 
arrived there after a long spell of rainy weather ; but it seems it 
was in the latter part of April he arrived there, after cruizing 
some time among the islands for whales; and if he had experien¬ 
ced so extraordinary a thing as heavy rains among the Gallapa- 
gos, I think he would have noticed it in some part of his journal. 
There can be no doubt, that, at some former period, small quan- 
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