RECORD: Darwin, Emma. [1882?]. [Reminiscences of Darwin on the 'Beagle']. CUL-DAR251.1106-7. Edited by John van Wyhe (The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Kees Rookmaaker, edited by John van Wyhe 4.2009. RN1
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin.
On some occasion all hands & even officers were set to pull at a rope which they did hand over hand, while C. pulled with one effort. They all shouted at him "Fleet philosopher fleet" — At last he called out "What is fleet" — which set them into fits of laughter.
The small crosses on a chart stand for sunken rocks & on his asking why the officer he applied to gravely assured him that it stood to reason; it was evidently proper that they should have that meaning.
One day while at work in his end of the cabin he felt as he thought an insect fall down his neck. He stood still & called the other officer to get it out for him & thought him most unfeeling for only standing still laughing at his distress. It proved to be a bit of string hanging down from the ceiling — which had dropped into his neck.
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 25 September, 2022