UuRiNG the year of my sojourn in Brazil, and my subsequent visit of some 

 months to the Argentine, and on the voyage out, I met with so much kindness 

 and hospitaUty that I can name only a few of my good friends, though they may 

 rest assured that none of them are forgotten. 



My first relations with Brazil were due to Fraulein Elsa Schwab, of Parahyba, 

 and Professor de Barros, whose friendly hospitality I subsequently enjoyed at his 

 home in Parahyba. To the Secretary of State of Pernambuco, Dr. Samuel Hard- 

 man, who invited me to Brazil, and in whom I always found sympathy for and 

 understanding of my work, I express my thanks elsewhere. 



For the greater part of the time I enjoyed the hospitality of the Benedictine 

 monasteries, to whose Abbots this book is therefore dedicated; but I have grateful 

 memories also of the Franciscans in Olinda, Bahia, Rio, Petropolis and Sao Paulo, 

 and of the Benedictine nuns in Misericordia and Caruarii. For weeks I lived in 

 the home of my good friend Dr. P. A. Nusse and his kindly Portuguese wife ; 

 in Sao Paulo — during the difficult days of the Revolution — I enjoyed the hospi- 

 tality of Herr Alfred and Frau Alice Weissflog and my dear "Lion" ; and in 

 Buenos Aires the time spent with my friend and colleague in the protection of 

 natural beauties. Professor Hugo Salomon, and his wife and daughter, made a 

 happy conclusion to a delightful visit. I must also express my gratitude to my 

 kind friend, Dr. Virginia Rodrigues, and her children, in Olinda, and toSenhor and 

 Senhora A. O. Coimbra, Herr and Frau Bokmann, and Herr and Frau A. Kronke, 

 who literally made me feel at home. In Rio, Herr Kurl and Frau Elizabeth Runge 

 and her daughter Gisela were most kind to me, and in Sao Paulo Herr Richers. 

 I must thank the German Minister, Dr. Plehn, and the German Consuls in Recife, 

 Rio, Sao Paulo, and Santos, for their kindly assistance, and the German clubs for 

 their friendly hospitality. Among the scientists and scholars of Brazil, I must 

 thank Dr. Lutz, Dr. Costa Lima and Father Borgmeier (O.F.M.) in Rio, Herrn 

 Liiderwald, Hoehne and Decher in Sao Paulo, and Professor Lehmann Nitsche in 

 La Plata for many interesting hours. And I do not forget the hours spent with 

 Herr Arp, Dr. Regendanz, Dr. ChristofTel, and above all, my friend Dr. E. Bethke. 



