6 PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
our arrival at that Cytherean Paradise where all their wishes were 
to be gratified. 
“We are bound to the Western islands, with two objects in 
view: 
“ Firstly, that we may put the ship in a suitable condition to 
enable us to take advantage of the most favourable season for our 
return home: 
“ Secondly, I am desirous that you should have some relaxation 
and amusement after being so long at sea, as from your late good 
conduct you deserve it: 
“We are going among a people much addicted to thieving, 
treacherous in their proceedings, whose conduct is governed only 
by fear, and regulated by views to their interest. We must put 
nothing in their power, be ever on our guard, and prevent by 
every means that can be used, disputes and difficulties with them; 
we must treat them with kindness, but never trust them, and be 
most vigilant where there is the greatest appearance of friend¬ 
ship. Let the fate of the many who have been cut off by the sava¬ 
ges of the South Sea islands be a useful warning to us: 
“ It will require much discretion and good management to keep 
up a friendly intercourse with them; and in the regulations that I 
shall lay down for this object I shall expect the hearty concur¬ 
rence of every person under my command: 
“Disputes are most likely to arise from trafic with them; there¬ 
fore to prevent them I shall appoint a vessel for the express pur¬ 
pose of trading, and shall select an officer and four men to conduct 
all exchanges, and every other person is positively forbid to trafic 
with the natives, except through the persons so selected to conduct 
the trade: 
“No canoes or male natives will be permitted to come along 
side the Essex, or any other vessel, except the trading ship, on any 
account, unless it may be the chiefs whom I may designate. And 
if every person exerts themselves to carry on the work of the ship, 
as well as to enforce the above regulations, and such others as I 
may from time to time adopt, I shall allow you time to amuse 
yourselves on shore; but this indulgence shall cease the moment 
I discover any relaxation in vigilance or industry. 
Signed D. Porter. 
V. S. Frigate Essex, October , 1813. 
