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Charles Darwin, who was at the time 22 years old and had just graduated college, boarded the HMS Beagle alondside Captain FitzRoy.
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They arrived at Cape Verde Islands, and Charles was excited for his first observations.
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The ship has crossed the Equator, and dispite protests, he was shaved.
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They reached Salvador, Brazil, and Charles was intrigued by what he saw, saying that "I have been wandering by myself in a Brazilian forest: amongst the multitude, it is hard the say what set of objects is most striking..."
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THey arrive in Punta Alta, Argentina. Charles finds many fossils, stating that he thinks they are of "great dimension" and that he believes many of them are newer.
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In another place in Argentina, Captain FitzRoy reaptirates three natives he had brought to England on a previous voyage, and attempts to start a Christian mission, which fails in the end.
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They reach Falkland Island, which is very barren. He's saddened by this, but cheers up when he cracks open "primitave looking rocks" and finds fossils.
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Charles explores the land with the local people, and finds enjoyment in it.
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Charles sees Mount Osorno erupt and experiences the earthquake in the woods near Valdiva. He's impacted by the damage, saying that "I believe this earthquake has done more in degrading or lessening the size of the island, than 100 years of ordinary wear and tear."
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Charles is intrigued by the many different plants, birds, and tortoises of the islands, and can't resist climbing on top of one of the tortoises for a ride. He noticed that the igaunas were the only ones who swam and fed in the ocean, and that what he had thought were a bunch of different bird species, were all finches.
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Charles wonders why Australia has a completely different set of mammals than the rest of the world.
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Charles studies the coral reefs along the coast of the island to test his theory of atoll formation.
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Charles took a walk along the coast near a town, observing that the plain there was uncultivated.
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He noticed the bullock wagons, and the Table Mountain which is a giant piece of sandstone which rises to a height of 3,500 feet.
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Charles discovers many species in the jungles of South America, but he is dismayed at the unscheduled detour. He states, "I loathe, I abhor the sea, and all ships which sail on it."
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They reached England again, and Charles stated that he was "confused with delight".