Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.3)

608 CONCLUSION. Oct. 1836. a number of isolated facts soon become uninteresting, the habit of comparison leads to generaUzation. On the other hand, as the traveller stays but a short space of time in each place, his descriptions must generally consist of mere sketches, instead of detailed observation. Hence arises, as I have found to my cost, a constant tendency to fill up the wide gaps of knowledge, by inaccurate and superficial hypotheses. But I have too deeply enjoyed the voyage, not to recom- mend any naturahst, although he must not expect to be so fortunate in his companions as I have been, to take all chances, and to start, on travels by land if possible, if other- wise on a long voyage. He may feel assured, he will meet with no difficulties or dangers (excepting in rare cases) nearly so bad as he beforehand anticipated. In a moral point of view, the effect ought to be, to teach him good- humoured patience, freedom from selfishness, the habit of acting for himself, and of making the best of every thing, or in other words contentment. In short he should partake of the characteristic qualities of the greater number of sailors. TraveUing ought also to teach him distrust ; but at the same time he will discover, how many truly goodnatured people there are, with whom he never before had, or ever again will have any further communication, who yet are ready to offer him the most disinterested assistance.