Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

276 UNSETTLED STATE LIGHTS. March, day (10th March), the wind increased suddenly from the strength of a fresh gale to that of a hurricane, and in a few minutes the Beagle brought both anchors ahead, and was pitch- ing her forecastle into the sea. Topgallant-masts were on deck, and yards braced sharp up all day ; but we were obliged to let go a third anchor, and even then had some anxiety for the result. Till this squall came, the water had been smooth, though of course covered with white crests ('horses*') ; but it was then changed into a short sea, such as I should have been slow to believe wind could have raised in that confined cove. The yawl, an excellent sea-boat, and quite light, was swamped at her moorings ; but I think that the chief cause of her filhng was a quantity of kelp which drifted athwart hawse and hin- dered her rising easily to the sea. During the month we remained in Berkeley Sound, I had much trouble with the crews of whaling or small seahug ves- sels, as well as with the settlers, who all seemed to fancy that because the British flag was re-hoisted on the Falklands, they were at liberty to do what they pleased with Mr. Vernet's pri- vate property, as well as with the wild cattle and horses. The gauchos wished to leave the place, and return to the Plata, but as they were the only useful labourers on the islands, in fact, the only people on whom any dependance could be placed for a regular supply of fresh beef, T interested myself as much as possible to induce them to remain, and with partial success, for seven staid out of twelve. While walking the deck after dark, I sometimes saw flashes of light on the distant hills, which it was difficult to account for as ' ignes fatui,' because they were seen only on the heights, and momentarily, long intervals intervening between each faint flash. I once remarked similar instantaneous glimpses of feeble light, like the flashing of a distant pistol, near Pecket Harbour, in Magalhaens Strait, during a rainy night, but on the hills, at the south side of Berkeley Sound, I witnessed such lights repeatedly. They were never bright or lasting — merely a faint sudden gUmmer — exactly as I have said, like the flash of a pistol, fired at a great distance. It has