282 



A VOYAGE TO 



Book VIII. 



C H A P. X. 



Voyage from Conception to the IJland of 

 Juan Fernandes; and from thence to 

 Valparaiso. 



THE Ihips being come to an anchor in the port of 

 Talcaguano, we waited on Don Pedro de Men- 

 dinueta, at the city of Conception, who informed us 

 that the commodore Don Jofeph Pizarro, together 

 •with the land and fea officers, were arrived at Santia- 

 go, and that he intended to fet out for Valparaifo, in 

 order to hoift his flag on board the Efperanza, and 

 take upon him the command of that fquadron, on 

 receiving this intelligence, and having no orders to 

 continue at Conception, we put to fea on the fixth of 

 February, and fleering for the place of our deflination, 

 made, on the 20th, the ifland de Tierra de Juan Fer- 

 nandes, and at half an hour after ten, as we were 

 plying to windward along the coaft, and (landing co- 

 wards the ifland which then bore two leagues well 

 from us, we faw on the top of one of the mountains 

 a bright light, which furprized us the more, as on 

 the following day we faw no traces of any fhip's being 

 in the port fince we left it. I had a clear view of it 

 from the inftant it began, and obierved that at firft 

 It was very fmall, and increafed, fo as to form a flame 

 like that of a flambeau. The full vigour of its light 

 jailed about three or four minutes, when it diminifhed 

 in the fame gradual manner it had increafed. It did 

 not appear again all the next night, nor had we during 

 the whole time we were at an anchor in the port, any 

 view of fuch a phenomenon. We fent fome of our 

 people on fliore to examine all the mountains, and 

 other parts of the ifland, and they fpent feveral nights 

 on that and the adjacent mountains, but could not dif- 

 cover the lead veilige of any fire. As I knew the 



ifland 



I 



