Bøker av John Macdouall

Join John Macdouall on his incredible journey through the Straits of Magellan in HMS Adventure and Beagle, as he explores the beautiful and often treacherous Patagonian and Terra Del Fuégo landscapes. This first-hand account is a must-read for any adventurer.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

On 22 May 1826, HMS Beagle left Plymouth Sound on her maiden voyage, accompanying HMS Adventure to Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego to survey the Strait of Magellan. Years later, Royal Naval officer John Macdouall (fl.1820-30) proclaimed himself 'one whose visit to Port Famine, and sometime residence on that inhospitable coast, have left no wish of re-visiting it, really or metaphorically'. Nevertheless, his first-hand account of the first nineteen months of the Beagle's voyage, originally published in 1833, is a highly entertaining read. With an amusing combination of self-deprecation and caustic observation, and in preference to 'the trouble of detailing the monotonous course of a long sea voyage', Macdouall relates anecdotes about life aboard ship and the peoples and places encountered. While unforgiving of 'absurd' Spanish customs and 'national indolence', and Rio de Janeiro's 'bowing hypocritical Portuguese', he offers a generally kinder portrait of Fuegian and Patagonian 'savages'.

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 MacDouall bore a special quality: sensitivity for social matters beyond the usual arrogance of the ruling classes. This aspect makes the book worth reading for sea dogs as well as all others who are interested in historical descriptions of that time.The book was first published in 1833 under the title ¿Narrative of a Voyage to Patagonia and Terra del Fuego in 1826 and 1827¿.