1834. 



SEAIICH FOlt MUllDEilEllS. 



329 



they anticipated. About a month after the Hopeful sailed, 

 H.M.S. Challenger, Captain M. Seymour, arrived, having a 

 lieutenant of the navy and four seamen on board, who had 

 volunteered from H.M.S. Tyne, and were duly authorized to 

 remain at the Falklands. The following extract from a letter 

 will show what took place on Captain Seymour''s arrival. 



" Captain Seymour, and the consuls, being anxious to visit 

 the settlement of Port Louis, landed some distance from it (the 

 wind being strong from S.S.W.), intending to walk there. 

 About a mile from the houses they were met by an Englishman 

 named Channon, sent by the gauchoes to see who they were, 

 and whether the ship was a whaler in want of beef, or a man- 

 of-war. He informed them that the gauchoes and Indians had 

 murdered Mr. Brisbane : Dickson, who had been left in charge 

 of the flag by Captain Onslow : Simon ; and two others : and 

 had pillaged the houses, destroying every thing in their search 

 for money. He then pointed them out, sitting under a wall, 

 with their horses behind the remains of the government house, 

 ready saddled for a start on our nearer approach. They had 

 two gauchoes, prisoners, who had not been concerned in the 

 murders, and whom they threatened to kill, if he, Channon, did 

 not return. He also stated that one of them was willing to 

 turn king's evidence, and would bring back all the horses, if 

 possible, provided Captain Seymour would ensure his pardon. 

 The whole of them, nine in number, retreated into the interior 

 as soon as they found out it was a ship of war, taking all the 

 tame horses, between fifty and sixty.* As his party were not 

 armed, Captain Seymour thought it right to return on board ; 

 but after dark. Lieutenant Smith was sent with a party of 

 marines, and two boats, to try and take them, if they should 

 be still about the houses, and to leave with Channon a bottle 

 containing a crucifix, as a signal for Luna.-[- On their landing, 

 Lieutenant Smith took all necessary precautions, left six men 

 in charge of the boats, and proceeded cautiously with the 



* Thirteen men and three women had escaped to an island in the Sound, 

 as they could do nothing against the murderers, who had all the arms, 

 t The gaucho who offered to become king's evidence. 



