14 REVIEW*. 



One-tenth part of the sums of money lately squandered away in support 

 of a mission, conducted by certain well-known foreigners, who were for- 

 tunate enough to secure the patronage of the magnates of Leadenhall- 

 street, would have sufficed, if judiciously employed, to have more than 

 wiped off this national reproach. 



These remarks may seem somewhat out of place when our subject is 

 the Fauna of Amoorland, not of Hindostan ; but it should not be con- 

 cealed that the conduct of the rulers of a nation often termed barba- 

 rous — and whose efforts to occupy "a more enlarged sphere of useful- 

 ness" in Eastern Europe are still regarded with fear and trembling, and 

 were but recently opposed by the force of arms — contrasts, in some respects, 

 most favourably with that of our own enlightened government. It is 

 not long ago that the name of the Amoor first became known to British 

 ears. The fame of the Russian successes in that quarter has bat lately 

 reached us. Yet the first-fruits of the several expeditions despatched to 

 explore the natural products of the new acquisitions are already pre- 

 sented to the world ; and we have little doubt that the publication of 

 the Fauna and Flora of Amoorland will be completed ere that of British 

 India is commenced. 



Herr von Middendorf's expedition to South-eastern Siberia* had ex- 

 tended our knowledge of the natural productions of Northern Asia as 

 far as the Sea of Ochotsk and the upper confluents of the Amoor, so 

 that the exploration of the countries traversed by the lower portion of 

 this magnificent river was considered by the Imperial Academy of Sci- 

 ences of St. Petersburg as the next requisite step. Herr von Schrenck 

 was accordingly selected for this purpose, and, accompanied by his 

 scientific staff 1 , embarked in the autumn of 1853 in an imperial frigate, 

 specially appointed to convey him to his destination. After a voyage 

 round Cape Horn, the following Jane found him in Kaintschatka, 

 whence a corvette was directed to convey the expedition to its final des- 

 tination. On the 18th of August, 1854, they were accordingly landed 

 at what was then the military post of Nicolajewsch, at the mouth of the 

 Amoor; but what, we believe, is now the flourishing capital of the new 

 government of Amoorland. We need not follow Herr von Schrenck 

 during the two years which he devoted to the exploration of every part 

 of Amoorland, including the adjoining island of Sagalin. Suffice it to 

 say, that he returned to St. Petersburg overland, reaching that capital 

 in January, 1857, in safety, with his collections, after encountering 

 many perils and hardships in the winter's voyage up to the Amoor, 

 which, from Nicolajewsch to ISTertschinkoi Sawod — the point where the 

 navigation ceases, and the land -journey begins — lasted more than five 

 months. 



Besides the materials thus obtained for the investigation of the 

 Fauna of Amoorland, Herr von Schrenck has availed himself of the col- 



* Sec Reise in der ausserten Norden und Osten Siberiens, &c, 4 Bde, St. Peter; 

 burgh, 1847-59. 



