1834.] FALKLAND ISLANDS. 170 



anchored in Berkeley Sound, in East Falkland Island. This archi- 

 pelago is situated in nearly the same latitude with the mouth of 

 the Strait of Magellan; it covers a space of one hundred and 

 twenty by sixty geographical miles, and is a little more than half 

 the size of Ireland. After the possession of these miserable islands 

 had been contested by France, Spain, and England, they were left 

 uninhabited. The government of Buenos Ayres then sold them to 

 a private individual, but likewise used them, as old Spain had done 

 before, for a penal settlement. England claimed her right and 

 seized them. The Englishman who was left in charge of the flag 

 was consequently murdered. A British officer was next sent, un- 

 supported by any power : and when we arrived, we found him in 

 charge of a population, of which rather more than half were 

 runaway rebels and murderers. 



The theatre is worthy of the scenes acted on it. An undulating- 

 laud, with a desolate and wretched aspect, is everywhere covered 

 by a peaty soil and wiry grass, of one monotonous brown colour. 

 Here and there a peak or ridge of grey quartz rock breaks through 

 the smooth surface. Every one has heard of the climate of these 

 regions ; it may be compared to that which is experienced at the 

 height of between one and two thousand feet, on the mountains of 

 North Wales ; having however less sunshine and less frost, but 

 more wind and rain.* 



IQth. I will now describe a short excursion which I made round 

 a part of this island. In the morning I started with six horses 

 and two Gauchos : the latter were capital men for the purpose, and 

 well accustomed to living on their own resources. The weather 

 was very boisterous and cold, with heavy hail-stornis. We got on, 

 however, pretty well, but, except the geology, nothing could be 

 less interesting than our day's ride. The country is uniformly the 

 same undulating moorland; the surface being covered by light 

 brown withered grass and a few very small shrubs, all springing 

 out of an elastic peaty soil. In the valleys here and there might 

 l>e seen a small flock of wild geese, and everywhere the ground was 



* From accounts published since our voyage, and more especially from 

 several interesting letters from Capt. Sulivan, K.N., employed on the 

 survey, it appears that we took an exaggerated view of the badness of the 

 climate of these islands. But when I reflect on the almost universal 

 covering of peat, and on the fact of wheat seldom ripening here, I can 

 hardly believe that the climate in summer is so fine and dry as it has 

 lately been represented. 



