THE VOYAGE. 



53 



likely to see ; and this habit of mind was continued during 

 the five years of the voyage. I feel sure that it was this train- 

 ing which has enabled me to do whatever I have done in 

 science. 



Looking backwards, I can now perceive how my love for 

 science gradually preponderated over every other taste. Dur- 

 ing the first two years my old passion for shooting survived 

 in nearly full force, and I shot myself all the birds and ani- 

 mals for my collection ; but gradually I gave up my gun more 

 and more, and finally altogether, to my servant, as shooting 

 interfered with my work, more especially with making out the 

 geological structure of a country. I discovered, though un- 

 consciously and insensibly, that the pleasure of observing and 

 reasoning was a much higher one than that of skill and sport. 

 That my mind became developed through my pursuits during 

 the voyage is rendered probable by a remark made by my 

 father, who was the most acute observer whom I ever saw, of 

 a sceptical disposition, and far from being a believer in phre- 

 nology ; for on first seeing me after the voyage, he turned 

 round to my sisters, and exclaimed, " Why, the shape of his 

 head is quite altered." 



To return to the voyage. On September nth (1831), I 

 paid a flying visit with Fitz-Roy to the Beagle at Plymouth. 

 Thence to Shrewsbury to wish my father and sisters a long 

 farewell. On October 24th I took up my residence at Plym- 

 outh, and remained there until December 27th, when the 

 Beagle finally left the shores of England for her circumnavi- 

 gation of the world. We made two earlier attempts to sail, 

 but were driven back each time by heavy gales. These two 

 months at Plymouth were the most miserable which I ever 

 spent, though I exerted myself in various ways. I was out 

 of spirits at the thought of leaving all my family and friends 

 for so long a time, and the weather seemed to me inexpressi- 

 bly gloomy. I was also troubled with palpitation and pain 

 about the heart, and like many a young ignorant man, espe- 

 cially one with a smattering of medical knowledge, was con- 

 vinced that I had heart disease. I did not consult any doc- 



