Dear Mother,
    I know that I haven't been writing to you that much, but here on the ship there are a lot of things going on.
   Dr. MacCormick thinks that he should of been the naturalist, not Charles Darwin. I believe that his place on the ship suits him well. Why, if he wasn't the doctor on the ship, I don't know who would be. There aren't many doctors around, not unless you count people that haven't got real knowledge in doctoring. Being jealous won't help, he is just going to have to try again next time.
   Mister Darwin is paying the children of the island to get him bugs and plants. What if the bug or plant or little animal is dangerous? The children wouldn't know! What would happen then? The child might get really hurt. I told Darwin the reason why I think he shouldn't do it, but he just said "Yes, you're right," and the next time i saw him he was doing it again. I bet he didn't listen. I asked Fuegia, and Shoshana what they thought of it. They both agreed with me.
   Shoshana is a girl who Fuegia and I are to watch over. She was very interested in Poena. She must have never seen a pig before.
   Flower and Poena are happy. I must go though. Uncle is still afraid of pirates. Anyone they might find able to kidnap and hold for ransom, is heavily guarded. Uncle is even thinking of teaching Shoshana, Fuegia, and how to use a gun!

Sincerely,      
Mary