PREFACE. 



This volume is one result of a scientific expedition to 

 the equatorial Andes and the river Amazon. The expedi- 

 tion was made under the auspices of the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution, and consisted of the following gentlemen besides 

 the writer : Colonel Staunton, of Ingham University, Le- 

 roy, :N'. Y. ; F. S. Williams, Esq., of Albany, K Y. ; and 

 Messrs. P. V. Myers and A. Bushnell, of Williams College. 

 We sailed from New York July 1, 1867; and, after cross- 

 ing the Isthmus of Panama and touching at Paita, Peru, 

 om- general route was from Guayaquil to Quito, over the 

 Eastern Cordillera; thence over the Western Cordillera, 

 and through the forest on foot to ITapo ; down the Rio 

 N'apo by canoe to Pebas, on {he Maranon ; and thence by 

 steamer to Para. " 



I^early the entire region traversed by the expedition is 

 strangely misrepresented by the most recent geographical 



* Another division, consisting of Messrs. H. M. Myers, R. H. Forbes, 

 and W. Gilbert, of Williams College, proceeded to Venezuela, and after 

 exploring the vicinity of Lake Valencia, the two former traversed the llanos 

 to Pao, descended the Apure and ascended the Orinoco to Yavita, crossed 

 the portage of Pimichin (a low, level tract, nine miles M-ide, separating the 

 waters of the Orinoco from those of the Amazon), and descended the Negro 

 to Manaos, making a vogage by canoe of over 2000 miles through a little- 

 known but deeply-interesting region. A narrative of this expedition will 

 soon be given to the public. 



