Vlll PREFACE. 



^ 



sailed with Mrs. Getting for Europe, where they passed 

 the summer. His presence with us during that time 

 was most fortunate, for it so happened that the only 

 serious cases of illness we had among us occurred before 

 he left, and his medical advice and care were of great 

 service. I lost the assistance of Mr. Anthony, and Mr. 

 Allen also, early in the expedition ; their health, always 

 delicate, obliging them to leave for home. With these 

 exceptions, our working force remained intact, and I am 

 happy to state that every member of the party returned 

 in safety to the United States.* 



No sooner was the Brazilian Expedition known to the 

 public, than I received a letter from Mr. Allen McLane, 

 President of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, offer- 

 ing to me and my whole party the hospitality of their 

 magnificent ship the Colorado, then just sailing from 

 New York for the Pacific coast. She was going almost 

 empty of passengers, being bound by the way of Cape 

 Horn for San Francisco. We left New York on board 

 this beautiful vessel, on the 1st of April, 1865. The 

 record of our delightful voyage to Rio de Janeiro will 



* There is but one sad record I have to make connected with this journey. 

 My friend and companion of many years, Mr. Burkhardt, died about ten 

 months after his return, of a disease which, though not contracted in Brazil, 

 since it was of some years' standing, was no doubt aggravated by the hot 

 climate. His great desire to accompany me led him, against my advice, 

 to undertake a journey which, in his case, was a dangerous one. He suffered 

 very much during our stay on the Amazons, but I could not persuade him to 

 leave his work ; and in the following pages it will be seen that his industry 

 was unflagging. 



