vi Preface to the English Edition. 



While preparing the details of our voyage for publication 

 in my own language, the idea perpetually presented itself 

 that a translation of this narrative into English might 

 prove not unacceptable to the British public. And although 

 fully aware that a voyage round the globe, in the course 

 of which little more than the coasts were visited of the 

 various countries we touched at, could not pretend to offer 

 much new information to the greatest of maritime nations, 

 it seemed, nevertheless, that it might interest a people so 

 eager in the pursuit of knowledge as the English, to know 

 the impression which has been made upon travellers of 

 education by the Colonies and Settlements of Britain througli^ 

 out the w^orld. 



The English language, moreover, being spoken more or 

 less over the greater part of the earth's surface, geogra- 

 phically speaking, the author who addresses his readers 

 in that tongue is sustained by the flattering conviction 

 that he will be understood by the majority of the nations 

 of the globe ! For it is not alone the educated classes 

 of all countries that seek to master a language which 

 possesses such a grand — all but unrivalled literature ! The 

 political and commercial development which Great Britain 

 enjoys under the benign influence of liberal institutions, 

 has made English the medium of intercourse among almost 

 all sea-fliring nations; nay, even barbarous tribes find it 

 their obvious interest to get a slight inkling at least of the 

 language of a people whose civilizing and elevating energies 



