IXTRODUCTION. IX 



the Portuguese collections, Count Ficalho states, in Jornal de 

 Sciencias, Lisbon, v. (No. xviii.) pp. 76, 77 (June 1875), that 

 there exists in the Polytechnic School a valuable collection of 

 plants collected and skilfully prepared by Dr. Welwitsch ; that it 

 contains the greater part of the cryptogams and not a few of 

 the phanerogamic families ; that the collection is very rich, and is 

 furnished with manuscript notes ; and that important information 

 and details relating to the distribution of the species are due to 

 this indefatigable and critical collector, such information being 

 very deficient in nearly all the works previously published on 

 the Portuguese flora. 



It was in 1851 that the Government of Queen Dona Maria first 

 resolved to explore the Portuguese possessions on the West Coast 

 of Africa, with the double object of obtaining scientific informa- 

 tion on the products of the country and of forwarding its material 

 interests. The project was laid before the Cortes in that year, 

 and on the 17th March it was duly passed. The Government 

 Avas authorized to fix a monthly salary up to 200 milreis {£ii 18s.) 

 to a naturalist to be employed for the purpose ; a capital expendi- 

 ture of 1200 mih^eis (=£269) was also allowed for the purchase of 

 instruments, etc., and for the expenses of the voyage. The same 

 year was that of the Great Exhibition of London ; and Welwitsch, 

 Avhose abilities and scientific acquirements had now generally 

 become known and appreciated thi'oughout Portugal, was engaged 

 to prepare the contributions of that country. King Don Fernando 

 was very active in forwarding the proposed expedition to Angola, 

 and himself planned a scheme, the execution of which he entrusted 

 to one or two of his ministers who comprehended and sympathised 

 with his earnest desire for national progress and the prosperity 

 of the colonies. For carrying out the scientific part of his scheme 

 the King saw in Welwitsch the very man required for so difficult 

 an undertaking. He had been so long in Portugal that his 

 feelings were fully enlisted in the welfare and honour of his 

 adopted country ; a man of liberal culture and education, and a 

 good linguist, he had proved himself a profound naturalist, as 

 well as an admirable collector, and his administrative abilities 

 had been shown in his conduct of the gardens under his care. 

 Welwitsch was accordingly selected, and in 1851 proceeded to 

 London to make preparations for his voyage. He spent some 

 months here, and on the 28th May was elected corresponding 

 member of the Poyal Botanic Society of London. After receiving 

 very valuable advice as to botanical travelling from Robert Brown 

 and other botanists, he returned to Lisbon, and in due course 

 started on his important mission, fully equipped, accredited with 

 full powers by the home Government, and entrusted with com- 

 plete liberty of action. How well the King had chosen was 

 abundantly proved during the next seven yeai-s, throughout 

 which Welwitsch showed an amount of enthusiasm, perseverance, 

 and endurance of hardships which could scarcely be surpassed. 

 The decree of appointment, dated 10th April 1852, referred to 



