Radius Opera

I: Preface; St. Jago, Cape de Verd Islands

… in which the author introduces his Journal, describes the population at St. Jago and recounts an encounter at a river-crossing with a slave at Rio de Janeiro.

II: Rio de Janeiro 1832, Buenos Ayres 1833

… in which are described wasps, their larvae, and their feeding habits at Rio; the beef slaughter at Buenos Ayres.

III: Letters, 1833: to Miss C. Darwin – to J. M. Herbert

… in which a request is made for funds to pay for a personal servant; reaction to political developments at home; rain at Rio Plata; further thoughts on Abolition.

IV: 1834, Patagonia; letter to Miss C. Darwin

… in which a condor is shot; the behaviour of condors in the wild; the treatment of captive condors at Valparaiso.

V: Galapagos Archipelago, 1835

… in which the extreme tameness of birds is described; also the ease with which they may be killed, for sport or food (or study).

VI: Pernambuco, Brazil, 1836 – Letter to J. S. Henslow

… in which powerful memories of colonial slaver y on leaving Brazil are recollected; an application to the Geological Society; Napoleon’s tomb; Herschel at the Cape; a dream of England.

VII: October 1836. Cambridge, England

… in which the author offers his conclusions; man’s lowest state; the thrill of the chase and foreign lands; Australia; pride in British civilization.