1829-1835. 



DESERTERS — METEORS. 



395 



he assured me would amply satisfy both ' bruxos** and ' de- 

 votos,' and left him, notwithstanding his temporary fears, a 

 happy man. 



In 1834 I learned that we had actually been within a boat's 

 length of the deserters on one occasion, and that they had made 

 up their minds to yield unconditionally. They were hidden in 

 some thick bushes on the borders of an inlet* under the Cor- 

 covado, and their piragua was hauled up behind a rock, out of 

 immediate observation. 



It is now high time to quit Chiloe, and proceed along the 

 coast northward : but before I do so, let me take advantage 

 of this opportunity to express the gratitude of those with me, 

 as well as of myself, for a succession of private assistance and 

 sincere kindness experienced from many persons at San Carlos, 

 whose names I refrain from mentioning, because I have a great 

 dislike even to the idea of publishing any thing that occurs in 

 the unreserved intercourse of friends. 



* Palbitad, or Almangrande. 



Extraordinary meteoric appearances have occasionally been noticed 

 about Chiloe, and the islands southward of it. In describing- theCarel- 

 mapu earthquake, of 1633, AgUeros says that torrents of rain followed; 

 and that on a high hill near the town was seen a globe of fire, which rose 

 for a short interval, and then fell into the sea : the waters of which were 

 in consequence much disturbed. A violent tempest ensued, with hail 

 larger than musket-balls. 



Another remarkable earthquake happened thereabouts on the 23d — 24th 

 of December, 1737 : and on the 30th, in the early part of the evening, 

 a great exhalation or cloud of fire was seen passing, from north to south, 

 over all the archipelago. It fell on the Huayteca islands, covered them 

 with ashes, and burned up the vegetation to such a degree that it was 

 only in 1750, that the islands began again to look green. — Agiieros, 

 pp. 102, 104, 105. 



In Sarmiento's voyage an appearance of a similar nature is mentioned, 

 as having been seen near the Strait of Magalhaens : (Viage al Estrecho 

 de Magallanes, p. 205). — Other authorities might be quoted. 



