was one of them. Q But Fitz-Roy is now known to us, LITTLE 

 not for his maps which have passed into the mutual JOURNEYS 

 wealth of the world, but because he took on his trip, 

 merely as an afterthought, a volunteer naturalist. 

 Before the "Beagle" sailed, Captain Fitz-Roy and 

 young Mr. Darwin went down to Portsmouth, and the 

 Captain showed him the ship. The Captain took pains 

 to explain the worst. It was to be at least two years of 

 close, unremitting toil. It was no pleasure excursion 

 there were no amusements provided, no cards, no 

 wine on the table the fare was to be simple in the 

 extreme jfi Jt, 



This way of putting the matter was most attractive to 

 Darwin Fitz-Roy became a hero in his eyes at once. 

 The Captain's manner inspired confidence he was a 

 man who did not have to be amused or cajoled. " You 

 will be left alone to do your work," said Fitz-Roy to 

 Darwin, "and I must have the cabin to myself when I 

 ask for it." 

 And that settled it. 



Life aboard ship is like life in jail. It means freedom, * 

 freedom from interruption you have your evenings 

 to yourself, and the days as well. 



Darwin admired every man on board the ship, and 

 most of all, the man who selected them, and so wrote 

 home to his sisters. He admired the men because each 

 was intent on doing his work, and each one seemed to 

 assume that his own particular work was the most 

 important. 



Second Officer Wickham was entrusted to see that the 



169 



