246 
PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
cultivation would, no doubt, greatly improve it. The soil of these 
islands, although dry and parched up, seems rich and productive ; 
and, were it not for the want of streams of fresh water, they might 
be rendered of great importance to any commercial nation that 
would establish a colony on them. They afford good harbours, 
are situated in the finest climate under heaven, are in the neigh* 
bourhood of the best fishing-ground for the spermaceti whales, 
and afford a rich supply of fresh provisions, in the land-tortoises 
and other animals with which they abound Nothing is wanting 
but water; and I am still of opinion that may be found. A fine 
spring was discovered in Charles’ Island, not far from the sea- 
coast, in a place by no means promising in its appearance ; and I 
think, by a strict search, an abundance may be found. We have 
seen, from what Pat has effected, that potatoes, pumpkins, &c., 
may be raised, and of a superior quality, and with proper industry 
the state of these islands might be much improved. 
Chatham Island differs little in its appearance from all the 
rest: the land in the interior is high, thrown up in irregular 
hills by the operations of volcanoes, and the sea-coast bounded^by 
loose flakes of lava. On the north side of the bay is a high bluff, 
where Colnet states that he found a rill of fresh water. I gave it 
the most careful examination, and could not find the smallest 
quantity. The rise and fall of the tide here is about eight feet. 
After scrubbing our ship, we on the 3d of September left 
Chatham Island, and stood over for Hood’s Island, where we an¬ 
chored on the 7th, in a bay on the north side, formed by a small 
island and some islets on the east. Previous to going in with the 
ship, I sent lieutenant Wilmer in, with directions to place a 
buoy in the most suitable anchorage ; and, as the wind was direct¬ 
ly out of the bay, I beat up for the buoy, making short tacks. We 
got twenty-five fathoms about two miles from the shore, clean 
sandy bottom, and anchored in nineteen fathoms, one mile and a 
^ half from a white sandy beach in the bottom of the bay, nearfthe 
middle of which is a remarkable black rock, lying about forty 
yards from the shore, between which and the shore is a passage 
for vessels of a light draft of water. 
