132 THE VOYAGE. [Ch. VI. 



who have experienced it.* Although in so low a latitude the 

 locality is not disagreeably hot, but at present it is very damp, 

 for it is the rainy season. I find the climate as yet agrees 

 admirably with me ; it makes me long to live quietly for some 

 time in such a country. If you really want to have [an idea] 

 of tropical countries, study Humboldt. Skip the scientific 

 parts, and commence after leaving TenerifFe. My feelings 

 amount to admiration the more I read him. . . . 



This letter will go on the 5th, and I am afraid will be somo 

 time before it reaches you ; it must be a warning how in other 

 parts of the world you may be a long time without hearing. 

 A year might by accident thus pass. About the 12th we start 

 for Eio, but we remain some time on the way in sounding tho 

 Albrolhos shoals. . . . 



We have beat all the ships in manoeuvring, so much so that 

 the commanding officer says we need not follow his example ; 

 because we do everything better than his great ship. I begin 

 to take great interest in naval points, more especially now, as 

 I find they all say we are tho No. 1 in South America. I 

 suppose the Captain is a most excellent officer. It was quite 

 glorious to-day how we beat the Samarang in furling sails. 

 It is quite a new thing for a " sounding ship " to beat a regular 

 man of- war ; and yet the Beagle is not at all a particular ship. 

 Erasmus will clearly perceive it when he hears that in the 

 night I have actually sat down in the sacred precincts of tho 

 quarter deck. You must excuse these queer letters, and 

 recollect they are generally written in the evening after my 

 day's work. I take more pains over my log-book, so that 

 eventually you will have a good account of all the places I 

 visit. Hitherto the voyage has answered admirably to me, and 

 yet I am now more fully aware of your wisdom in throwing 

 cold water on the whole scheme ; the chances are so numerous 

 of [its] turning out quite the reverse ; to such an extent do I feel 

 this, that if my advice was asked by any person on a similar 

 occasion, I should be very cautious in encouraging him. I 

 have not time to write to anybody else, so send to Maer to let 

 them know, that in the midst of the glorious tropical scenery, 

 I do not forget how instrumental they were in placing me 

 there. I will not rapturise again, but I give myself great 

 credit in not being crazy out of pure delight. 



Give my love to every soul at home, and to the Owens. 



I think one's affections, like other good things, flourish and 

 increase in these tropical regions. 



* u My mind has been, since leaving England, in a perfect hurricane of 

 delight and astonishment." — C. D. to Fox, May 1832, from Botofogo Bay. 



