122 Voyage of the Novara. 



centrated on herself, during more than half a century, the in- 

 terest of the naturalist, as well as of the political economist — 

 of the merchant as well as of the emigrant. Indeed, w^e may- 

 say that there are few countries, beyond the limits of Europe, 

 which in certain parts have already been more thoroughly ex- 

 plored than the Brazilian Empire, while at the same time it 

 can boast the possession of a rich and valuable stock of 

 literature, treating of its history, since its discovery by the 

 Portuguese Admiral, Pedro Alvarez Cabral, on the 22nd of 

 April, 1500, down to the present time. 



After so brief a sojourn as ours, we can hardly offer more 

 to the reader than a short sketch of our own few experiences, 

 and some remarks regarding the alterations which took place 

 in the appearance of the city and in its social and political 

 condition, since the period when Martius and Spix, Rugendas, 

 Prince Neuwied, Helmreichen, Natterer, Pohl, d'Orbigny, 

 Wilkes, Castelnau, Burmeister, and others visited Brazil, and 

 so accurately delineated it both by pen and pencil.* 



The magnificent scenery of the Bay of Rio de Janeiro still 

 continues to possess the same absorbing interest for the new- 

 comer, wherever it has not suffered by the expansion of the 



* Before we left Europe, tlie wisla was repeatedly expressed to us that, during our 

 stay iu Rio, more accurate information should be obtained as to the fate of numerous 

 scientific works and collections, by several German natiu'aUsts who died in Brazil in 

 recent times, such as Frederick Sello, Dr. Miiller (a companion of Castehiau), Dr. 

 Engler, and others. Unfortunately, we can only give the little consolatory intelli- 

 gence that, ■ndth the exception of the scientific memoranda left behind b}^ Dr. 

 Engler, chiefly relating to Itil in the province of St. Paul, there was notliing furtlier 

 to be hoped for. The collections have all been dispersed through want of cai-e, and 

 the manuscripta nearly all destroyed through ignorance of their value. 



