216 



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 filling 

 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 sealing 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 glimmer — exactly as I have 

 said, like the flash of a pistol, fired at a great distance. It has 



