320 Voyage of tJie Novara. 



of several months back, our bag having been sent to Lima 

 instead of Valparaiso. However, the news received direct 

 from Europe left no doubt that a war was imminent between 

 France and Austria, and this circumstance at once deter- 

 mined our commander, like a true patriot, to return immedi- 

 ately home, so as to make his o-wn services as well as those 

 of his subordinates available in protecting our native land 

 from the dangers impending over it. The original plan of 

 sailing to Lima, and thence, after visiting the Gralipagos, to 

 Buenos Ayres and Monte Video, was under the prevailing 

 circumstances totally abandoned. In a few days more the 

 vessel was to sail for Gibraltar direct round Cape Horn. 



As this decision involved a sea-voyage of some 10,000 

 miles, which must naturally be almost barren of ethno- 

 graphic or statistical interest, and as the arrival of the 

 Novara at Gibraltar could scarcely be expected under from 

 80 to 90 days, the author of this narrative requested per- 

 mission of the commander of the Expedition to devote the 

 time required for the frigate to make her voyage, in pro- 

 secuting a journey overland to Lima and Panama, with 

 the intention of catching at Aspinwall the next British 

 royal mail steamer to Europe, and thus again fall in with the 

 Novara at Gibraltar about tlie beginning of August. The 

 paramount motive for this proposal was tlie wish expressed 

 to dedicate all this time to visit Lima, Panama, and the 

 intermediate ports, and thus to forward to the utmost the 

 objects of the Imperial Expedition, even when it was in fact 



