  We have observed phase singularities due to vortex excitation in
Bose-Einstein condensates. Vortices were created by moving a laser beam through
a condensate. They were observed as dislocations in the interference fringes
formed by the stirred condensate and a second unperturbed condensate. The
velocity dependence for vortex excitation and the time scale for
re-establishing a uniform phase across the condensate were determined.
