PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
85 
, The wooding, watering, and taking on board the provisions 
and stores went on expeditiously, and all appeared to exert them¬ 
selves to hasten our departure. The Albatross remained with us 
but a few days, when she sailed on her return to the Sandwich 
Islands; but previous to her departure I sold to her commander 
the guns mounted on Fort Madison solely with a view of doing 
away any impression as to my motives in mounting them there: 
all now supposed that it was done only with a view of going 
through the formality of taking possession; but at a suitable time 
after her departure they were replaced by others. 
On the Albatross going to sea, which was on the 24th of No¬ 
vember, I sent some of my boats to tow her out, and went on 
board myself to deliver to the captain all our letters, carefully put 
up in lead, to be thrown overboard in case of capture. I went as 
far as the mouth of the harbour, when finding the morning plea¬ 
sant and the sea smooth I determined to proceed to the bay, which 
I had understood was to the westward, for the purpose of giving it 
an examination. I accordingly despatched Mr. Shaw to the fri¬ 
gate for arms, and on his rejoining me we put off and arrived in 
the bay we were in search of in about an hour and a half; the dis¬ 
tance from Massachusetts Bay was supposed to be about eight 
miles, the coast between being generally iron bound, with the ex¬ 
ception of two beaches and some coves making in, which did not 
appear to offer any shelter or other advantages. The bay, of 
which we could see no traces, until we were very close in with 
it, is narrow at its entrance and makes in two coves, the most east¬ 
ern of which affording the best shelter and landing, but appears 
destitute of inhabitants and (I concluded also) of water, as I could 
perceive no rivulets. We landed in the western cove, near the 
village, and at the mouth of a beautiful rivulet which was mean¬ 
dering through the valley, and is of sufficient depth for their larg¬ 
est canoes to enter. On landing, many of the natives came to the 
beach, who seemed disposed to treat us in the most friendly man¬ 
ner; but apprehensive of being troubled by their numbers I drew 
a line in the sand at some distance about the boats, and informed 
them they were tabbooed , and as an additional security to us, I 
caused all the arms to be loaded and ready for service on the first 
alarm, and centinels placed over them. Shortly after this the 
