BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 55 



who have enriched the coUectiona of Europe with large accessions of 

 plants and animals. But the interior of that vast country has not been 

 examined at all, or to a very limited extent only by rapid travellers, 

 who were able to gather but few of its products. It cannot be doubted, 

 therefore, that very rich results in botany and entomology would be 

 obtained, if an experienced person were to sojourn, for that express 

 purpose and during a considerable period, in the north-west parts of the 

 provinces Minas and Goyaz^ and if possible in Mato grosso. Of this, 

 a scientific expedition of three years to Brazil has entirely satisfied me ; 

 and I accordingly now beg to invite the Naturalists of England to sup- 

 port a plan, which it is to take effect in next spring, when, if I succeed 

 in obtaining a sufficient number of subscribers to shares in the under- 

 taking, I intend starting from Hamburg for the Brazils, 



I propose spending three years on the expedition, making those parts 

 of Minas Geraes and Goyaz, which are situated beyond the Francisco 

 river, the principal localities for my labours, extending, if not pre- 

 vented by the state of the country, as far north as practicable in the 

 river-valleys of Goyaz, Tocantin and Araguaya. But I wiU sojourn 

 likewise at other places which may offer a rich botanical and entomolo- 

 gical harvest ; experience having taught me that a lengthened stay 

 alone admits of a systematic, extensive plan for making collections, 

 while even the richest tracts yield comparatively little to the transient 

 visitor. In case the time and means at command permit it, I hope to 

 penetrate into the province of Mato Grosso ; but since the portion of 

 Goyaz and Minas, which it is my intention to examine in the first in- 

 stance, contains an area exceeding three times that of Great Britain, it 

 will be impossible at present to determine the plan and route in detail. 

 My collections will consist, partly of dried plants, and partly of seeds, 

 also of insects, made to such an extent, and with such selection, that 

 the shareholders may be amply supplied, and at so early periods in suc- 

 cession, as can be effected by frequent transmissions ; which will secure 

 to them their annual supplies in the course of each year. The amount 

 of each share will be £36, being at the rate of ^12 per annum, of which, 

 however, only the first year's subscription will have to be anticipa- 

 ted; the second and third instalments, of £12 each, are not to be paid 

 until the shareholders shall have received the collections of the first 

 and second year. It will be at the option of the subscribers to deter- 

 mine, whether they desire to receive insects or plants ; and further, I 



