144 



FLOODS — LTGHTNiXG — SCURVY. June 1828. 



was forthwith fitted with cranks outside, for hoisting up her 

 boats when in harbour. 



Winter advanced rapidly ; the ground was constantly covered 

 with snow, from one to two feet deep, and every night more 

 fell. In the early part of June we had a gale of wind from the 

 N.W., which flooded the low ground upon which our tents 

 stood ; but fortunately the large tent had been accidentally 

 placed on a higher part, and escaped. This flood filled, and, of 

 course, spoiled the water in all the ponds about the tents ; and 

 we had afterwards to procure our supplies from a considerable 

 distance. 



On the 8th of June much lightning was observed to the 

 northward, and repeated rumbling noises were heard, which con- 

 tinued for long periods ; one lasted distinctly for the space of 

 twenty minutes. At first, they were thought to be eruptions of 

 some distant volcano ; but, from the frequent lightning, they 

 were probably echoes of thunder, reverberating through the 

 deep ravines that intersect the rocky ridges of the Cordillera, 

 from which we were distant at least one hundred and fifty miles. 



A succession of bad weather followed, during which the baro- 

 meter fluctuated rapidly. On the 14th, the mercury fell to 

 28. 17. inches, after which it gradually rose, with fine settled 

 weather, until it reached SO. 50., when bad weather again set 

 in. The people at the tents experienced another inundation. 

 Had the water risen six inches more, it would have carried 

 every thing away ; and as the wind was blowing dead upon the 

 shore, while a heavy surf was beating upon the beach, we could 

 have rendered them very httle assistance from the ship. 



The severity of the weather brought a most disagreeable 

 accompaniment. Scurvy appeared, and increased ; while the 

 accidental death of a seaman, occasioned by falling down a 

 hatchway, followed by the decease of two others, and also of 

 Mr. Low, of the Adeona, whose body was brought to me for 

 burial, tended to create a despondency amongst the crew that 

 I could in no way check. The monotony of their occupations, 

 the chilling and gloomy appearance of the country, and the 

 severity of the climate, all tended to increase the number of the 



