A Voyage to Patagonia Through the Straits of Magellan Aboard the H. M. S. "Beagle" and "Adventure" (1826 - 1827)
A Voyage to Patagonia Through the Straits of Magellan Aboard the H. M. S.

Author: John MacDouall

Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 330

ISBN-13: 3941842250

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Die Expedition der britischen Schiffe "Beagle" und "Adventure" in den Jahren 1826 und 1827 diente vornehmlich der Erkundung der Magellan-Straße für die Nutzung durch die Handelsschifffahrt. Man wollte Alternativen zu dem gefährlichen Seeweg um Kap Horn finden, war sich aber durchaus bewusst, dass auch die Magellan-Straße mit ihren starken Strömungen, heftigen Stürmen und zahlreichen Untiefen große Gefahren für Segelschiffe barg. Die wendigen und schnellen Erkundungsschiffe der Royal Navy leisteten gefährliche Pionierarbeit. Von großem Glück für die Nachwelt sollte sich der Umstand erweisen, dass mit John MacDouall ein Offizier mit von der Partie war, der nicht nur scharf beobachten konnte, sondern das Erlebte auch ebenso lebendig wie präzise darzustellen vermochte. Darüber hinaus besaß MacDouall eine in seiner Zeit und in seinen Schichten selten anzutreffende Eigenschaft: Sensibilität für soziale Fragen jenseits der ansonsten vorherrschenden Überheblichkeit der herrschenden Klasse. Dies macht sein Buch nicht nur für Seebären, sondern auch für an der Zeit interessierte ausgesprochen lesenswert. Die Erstveröffentlichung erfolgte im Jahre 1833 unter dem Titel "Narrative of a Voyage to Patagonia and Terra del Fuego in 1826 and 1827" e expeditions of H.M.S. "Beagle" and "Adventure" in 1826 and 1827 were primarily car-ried out to explore the usefulness of the Strait of Magellan for the merchant navy. Aiming at finding an alternative seaway to the perilous route around Cape Horn, it was clear that the Strait of Magellan with its strong currents, severe storms and numerous shallows was as dan-gerous for sailing vessels as the former. The swift and easily manoeuvrable Royal Navy ships conducted hazardous pioneer work. Luckily, the mate John MacDouall, with his accurate sense of observation, was on board, who delivered a lively and precise account of his adventures. Additionally, for his day and age MacD

Four Travel Journals / The Americas, Antarctica and Africa / 1775-1874
Four Travel Journals / The Americas, Antarctica and Africa / 1775-1874

Author: R. J. Campbell

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2017-05-15

Total Pages: 472

ISBN-13: 131713365X

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This volume offers annotated texts with biographical and historical introductions of four previously unpublished travel journals from the period 1775-1874. The first of these is the journal of a participant in a Spanish expedition sent from Mexico to explore the north-west coast of America. From the outset, difficulties plagued the voyage. Bodega's ship, a small schooner named Sonora, was not designed for open-ocean voyaging. A landing party was attacked and killed; midway into the voyage the Sonora became separated from her flagship; and later she was nearly capsized by a massive wave. Bodega's journal records the voyage's travails, hardships, discoveries, and eventual return. Next comes the journal of Commander Stokes, who served in command of HMS Beagle, under Captain P. P. King during the survey of the Straits of Magellan in 1827. This is an account of a detached operation, in very difficult weather conditions, in the western part of the strait. It is introduced by remarks on the expedition and the hydrographic history of the strait from its discovery to the inception of the survey and supplemented by remarks from Captain King's account and also that of the clerk, Macdouall. The third text is the journal of a young midshipman in HMS Chanticleer, a small vessel commanded by Henry Foster, RN, who had recently been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society for his scientific work in the Arctic. The voyage of 1828-31 was to make observations in the South Atlantic to determine the shape of the Earth and to ascertain the longitudes of a number of ports. Kay's lively diary describes the Chanticleer's encounters with warships of the Brazilian navy, largely manned by Englishmen. He records his struggle to take observations at Deception Island during gales and snowstorms, and near Cape Horn in fierce squalls and constant chilling rain, nevertheless remaining cheerful in the company of his fellow midshipmen. The final piece is the diary of Jacob Wainwright.