Chapter 1 Summary and Analysis

Charles Darwin (2/12/1809-4/19/1882) writes about his explorations of various places he visits as a 19th century naturalist during a long voyage around the world. He ships aboard the Beagle, a ten-gun brig, anchored at St. Jago (Sao Tiago), the primary island in the Cape de Verd group located to the west of Africa. The island has volcanic geology and not much vegetation, due to trees having been cut down during development of the island. As a result, few wild creatures other than grasshoppers and lizards inhabit the hills and valleys, the latter filling with water during torrential downpours. Plant life springs up after the rains only to be quickly turned brown in the sun.

Two of the ship's officers and Darwin ride horses on the island. They discover the ruins of a fort and a cathedral near a little town, and...