PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 9 
On the 13th of August we sailed from Eio Janeiro for the Pacific : CHAP, 
a passage interesting from the difficulties which sometimes attend it, 
and from its possessing the peculiarity of producing the greatest change August, 
of climate in the shortest space of time. The day after we left the 
port, we encountered a dangerous thunder-storm, which commenced in 
the evening, and lasted till after midnight : during this time the sheet 
lightning was vivid and incessant, and the forked frequently passed 
between the masts. The wind varied so often, that it was with the 
greatest difficulty the sails were prevented coming aback; and it blew 
so hard that it was necessary to lower the close-reefed topsails on the 
cap. S or y after midnight, a vivid flash of lightning left five meteors 
upon le mast-heads and topsail yard-arms, but did no damage : they 
weie o a uis cast, burnt about a quarter of an hour, and then dis- 
appeare . e weather almost immediately afterwards moderated, and 
the thunder cloud passed away. 
We had afterwards light and variable winds, with which we crept 
down to the southward, until the night of the 3Sth. When nearly 
a leas o t ie iiver Plate, a succession of pamperos* began, and con- 
tinued until the 2nd of September, with their usual characteristics, Sept. 
of thunder and lightning, with hail and sunshine between. On the 
9th, soundings were obtained in 76 fathoms otfthe Falkland Islands; 
hut no land was seen at the time, in consequence of misty weather. 
a short though heavy gale. As it was 
seekio "n i""^ ‘"'■“ed proximity to the land to good account, by 
from sn f under its lee, striking soundings upon a sandy bottom, 
,1 , “ “ the depth increasing with the distance from 
, , , „ ® weather moaerated on the day following, and we saw 
the land from S. 26" W. to S. 56" W., eight or nine leagues distant 
the wind at the same time, became favourable, and carried us past the 
Mauds during the night. The eastern point of these Islands (Cape 
St. Vincent), by such observations as we were able to make, appears to 
* These are heavy gusts of wind which blow off the heated nM? / 
between the foot of the Cordillera Mountains and the sea In the R lying 
the coa.t, they are very violent and dangerous, from the sudden " 
.«». Thsii force diaiiaishes as die dis Ji.ce f,;. the “L: ' “ 
c 
