Chap. IX.]
FALKLAND ISLANDS.
249
1842
ner, and transported to that first slain; beside which I had remained. Not being able to carry all to the boats, the latter was cleaned and spread open on the turf, with the hide uppermost; to protect it from the carrion hawks and vultures which were wheeling in flocks over our heads. First however a fine piece was cut out, with enough of the hide to wrap completely round it and provide a supper of 'carne con cuero' for all hands.
"In the mean time darkness and heavy sleet had overtaken us, with a bitter S. W. wind: no one in the excitement of the chase had used the precaution of observing the bearings of our landing-place; and we were soon completely bewildered amongst the innumerable little points that project into the bay, and the fingering lagoons that ramify inland. For several hours we stumbled along the muddy and rocky shore, before we found the individuals who remained with the boats; and whose halloos the wind carried away from us; whilst their beacon fire was wholly obscured by the thick sleet. Arriving at midnight, very cold, drenched and weary, we were delighted to find a roaring fire of 'diddle-dee' ready to cook our supper, for which the party had been most anxiously looking out. It was easily prepared: the lump of beef was wrapped tight and sewn into the hide; then thrown upon the fire, which, when fed with fresh marrow-bones, burned fiercely. In about an hour the 'carne con cuero' was taken out, looking like a red-hot cannon-ball; for the skin formed a hard charcoal case round the flesh: after cooling, it was opened, and showed a piece of deliciously flavoured, but rather tough beef, stewed in its own gravy. The tents had been pitched on a bed of shingle, the only dry ground in these spongy islands: the melting snow from the tent sides drained off underneath it; and though hard, this bedding accommodates itself, by a little bumping, to the projections of the body, and is tolerably comfortable as long as one is content to keep in the same position. After supper we jumped into our
