PREFACE. 



It may be proper to observe, as affording some guaran- 

 tee for the correctness of the information contained in this 

 Volume, that it has been compiled from a Journal, or a 

 Diary, which the author kept in obedience to a " General 

 Order" from the JSavy Department, and that the Journal 

 in question was frequently submitted to the Commander- 

 in-Chief of the Expedition for his inspection and perusal. 



The work will be found to embrace incidents occurring 

 on board the ship, Descriptions of Natural Scenery, Man- 

 ners and Customs, Government, Religion, and Commerce. 



By adopting a more diffusive style, I might have exceeded 

 my present limits ; instead of one such volume I might 

 have produced two or three, but the general reader would 

 have gained nothing by this, his main object being to 

 gather information, and the more succinctly it is conveyed 

 to him the more rapidly he will acquire it, and more easily 

 retain it. In short, I have endeavored to furnish a work 

 which should have the merit of being instructive and en- 

 tertaining, concise and cheap ; and I hope that the present 

 volume will be found to possess all these advantages. 



G. M. C. 



