Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.1): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

144 FLOODS — LTGHT>riXG — SCURVY. June 1828. was forthwith fitted with cranks outside, for hoisting up her boats when in harbour. Winter advanced rapidly ; the ground was constantly covered with snow, from one to two feet deep, and every night more fell. In the early part of June we had a gale of wind from the N.W., which flooded the low ground upon which our tents stood ; but fortunately the large tent had been accidentally placed on a higher part, and escaped. This flood filled, and, of course, spoiled the water in all the ponds about the tents ; and we had afterwards to procure our supplies from a considerable distance. On the 8th of June much lig-htning: was observed to the northward, and repeated rumbling noises were heard, which con- tinued for long periods ; one lasted distinctly for the space of twenty minutes. At first, they were thought to be eruptions of some distant volcano ; but, from the frequent lightning, they were probably echoes of thunder, reverberating through the deep ravines that intersect the rocky ridges of the Cordillera, from which we were distant at least one hundred and fifty miles. A succession of bad weather followed, during which the baro- meter fluctuated rapidly. On the 14th, the mercury fell to 28. 17. inches, after which it gradually rose, v/ith fine settled Aveather, until it reached 30. 50., when bad weatlier again set in. The people at the tents experienced another inundation. Had the water risen six inches more, it would have carried every thing away ; and as the wind was blowing dead upon the shore, while a heavy surf was beating upon the beach, we could have rendered them very little assistance from the ship. The severity of the weather brought a most disagreeable accompaniment. Scurvy appeared, and increased ; while the accidental death of a seaman, occasioned by falling down a hatchway, followed by the decease of two others, and also of Mr. Low, of the Adeona, whose body was brought to me for burial, tended to create a despondency amongst the crew that I could in no way check. The monotony of their occupations, the chilling and gloomy appearance of the country, and the .severity of the climate, all tended to increase the number of the