Tonight, we’ll read from the third chapter of British naturalist Charles Darwin’s “The Voyage of the Beagle”. This chapter explores the area around coastal Uruguay and Argentina, starting in the town of Madonado. Darwin describes the unique behaviors of the local wildlife, like ostriches and capybaras, and the customs of the local landowners and gauchos, or cowboys. He encounters curious locals who are fascinated by his pocket compass and matchsticks.

“The Voyage of the Beagle” is the title most commonly given to the book published in 1839 as Darwin’s “Journal and Remarks”, bringing him considerable fame and respect. If you’d like to start from the beginning, the first of this series aired on June 10th, 2024, and the second aired a month later.