The Voyage of the Beagle

Charles Darwin’s Journal of Researches into the National History and Geology of the Countries Visited During the Voyage Round the World of the HMS Beagle, more commonly known as The Voyage of the Beagle, is a landmark work in the field of natural history. The text draws from the detailed journals Darwin kept during his five-year journey (1831-1836) aboard the HMS Beagle, a British Navy ship sent to survey the coast of South America. First published in 1839, The Voyage of the Beagle was immensely popular in its own time, and an illustrated and updated second edition appeared in 1845. The Voyage of the Beagle helped to establish Darwin as a prominent figure in the global scientific community, and it continues to be studied, cited, and debated by scientists and scholars.

The Voyage of the Beagle falls into the genre of travel literature, a popular genre in the 19th century that combined detailed observation with personal narrative. Darwin’s writing is both descriptive and analytical, providing detailed accounts of the places he visited and the animals he encountered while also reflecting on the broader implications of his findings. The book was widely praised for its scientific accuracy and vivid descriptions, and it remains a classic of the genre to this day, though it has attracted criticism for its Eurocentric perspective and sanitized view of colonialism and imperialism.

This summary is based on the 2013 Start Classics e-Book edition of the unabridged 1845 text. Many popular editions of The Voyage of the Beagle are abridged, removing the longer scientific sections to make the text more accessible to modern readers.

Content Warning: The source material uses outdated and offensive terms to describe Indigenous peoples, and references enslavement, ethnic cleansing, imperialism, and suicide.

Summary

Chapter 1 details Darwin’s departure from Britain and his arrival at Porto Praya in Capo Verde, a chain of islands off the western coast of Africa. Darwin describes the behaviors of sea slugs, cuttlefish, and crustaceans and observes strange red algae in the water.

Chapter 2 takes Darwin to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Darwin travels inland for the first time and is horrified by the treatment of the enslaved people he encounters. He describes the biodiversity of South American insects and amphibians.

Chapter 3 describes Darwin’s time in Uruguay, where he encounters ranchers called gauchos for the first time. He describes their ranching and social habits and observes a number of animals, such as the capybara, mockingbird, and turkey vultures.

Chapter 4 begins with Darwin’s voyage to the mouth of the Rio Negro, Argentina. Darwin spends two weeks exploring the river and its tributaries. He encounters a powerful warlord named General Rosas who is tasked with forcibly removing Indigenous people. He observes flamingoes, skunks, and giant hares.

Chapter 5 details Darwin’s time at Bahia Blanca, Argentina. He collects a number of fossils, including those of species he knows to be extinct, and speculates about the causes of extinction. Darwin’s encounters with Indigenous people in this section lead him to believe they are inherently violent.

Chapter 6 takes Darwin from Bahia Blanca to Buenos Aires. The journey is treacherous but offers the opportunity to observe a wide variety of animals, including the puma, which he eats. He spends more time with Spanish colonists in Argentina and is amazed at the amount of meat they eat.

Chapter 7 describes a number of excursions Darwin makes in the Buenos Aires region. Over the course of these excursions, Darwin collects fossils, records the effects of a recent drought, and observes giant rabbits and jaguars. The chapter ends with an episode in which Darwin is caught in a minor revolution.

Chapter 8 contains an extensive description of the Argentinian landscape and the customs of its people, especially the Gaucho ranchers. In the second half of the chapter, Darwin travels up the Rio Plata and records a number of observations about boat life on the river as opposed to the sea.

Chapter 9 contains another river expedition, this time up the Santa Cruz. Darwin speculates as to the forces that shaped this river valley. The chapter ends with Darwin’s description of the remote and desolate Falkland Islands.

Chapters 10 and 11 describe Darwin’s time in Tierra del Fuego, a remote archipelago off the southernmost tip of South America. Darwin reveals that three Indigenous people of this archipelago, whom Captain FitzRoy had previously removed from their home and taken to England, are onboard the Beagle. He recounts their attempts at resettlement and describes the society and living conditions of the Indigenous people.

Chapter 12 begins with the Beagle’s arrival in Valparaiso, Chile, and details Darwin’s first impressions of the country. He describes the extensive mining operations the Spanish colonists have established and laments the working conditions of the miners.

Chapters 13 and 14 detail Darwin’s time in Chiloé, an archipelago off the coast of Chile. While in the islands, the HMS Beagle rescues stranded English sailors. Darwin also experiences three significant environmental catastrophes: a volcano explosion, a severe earthquake, and a series of tsunami waves following the earthquake. Darwin speculates about the causes of these kinds of natural disasters and the connections between them.

Chapter 15 sees Darwin’s return to the mainland, and he leaves the Beagle at Valparaiso to hike into the Andean foothills. His observation of wildlife leads him to speculate about the Andes as a natural barrier for species in the region.

Chapter 16 describes Darwin’s inland journey up the coast to Chile, where he plans to rejoin the Beagle. He observes a number of mines and is amazed at the strength of the miners.

Chapter 17 details Darwin’s time with the Beagle in the Galapagos Islands. Darwin observes unique species of finches and lizards on each of the islands, leading him to speculate about the ways in which species adapt to suit their environments.

Chapters 18 and 19 take Darwin to Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia. Darwin is deeply moved by the landscape and people he encounters in Tahiti, which he describes as a kind of paradise. He is less impressed by the Indigenous people he encounters in New Zealand and Australia, and although he celebrates the ingenuity of the regions’ English colonists, he does not think that they are of the same quality as their counterparts in Europe. He leaves Australia predicting that it will one day be a great colony, although he notes that it isn’t yet.

Chapters 20 and 21 describe Darwin’s journey back to England, with brief stops at the Keeling Islands, Mauritius, St. Helena, and Bahia Brazil. Darwin observes coral reef formations and speculates on their development over time. Chapter 21 ends with a lengthy reflection on his journey. He lists the many challenges he has faced and warns young explorers to undertake such journeys only if they are truly dedicated to science. He remarks that traveling has convinced him of the goodness of people across the world.