The Galapagos Islands, an 'enchanted archipelago' with natural volcanic beauty, were made famous by the explorations of Charles Darwin. The near-miraculous survival of unique species of birds and animals on these remote Pacific islands gave birth to his revolutionary theory of evolution.<BR>John Hickman, who sailed past them as a young man and later went to serve as British ambassador to both Chile and Ecuador, became fascinated by the islands. He always kept an ear open for the human stories behind the Galapagos, and discovered pirates and buccaneers, writers and exiles, real life Robinson Crusoes and Swiss Family Robinsons as well as the schemes of Spanish Kings, Inca Emperors and American filibusters.