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NATURE 



Yjfan. 28, 1875 



years been gradually increasing ; and we hope that with 

 improved systems of education, both in Europe and in 

 America, systems in which a training in science will have 

 a prominent place, such scientific volunteers will become 

 more and more numerous. Considering the large number 

 of Englishmen alone who occupy positions in our own 

 colonies and other foreign countries, in the midst of 

 districts of which we have very little accurate knowledge, 

 what a rich harvest might be expected if only one half 

 of them had the scientific training to be obtained at a 

 German Rcahclntlc / 



The dates of publication of the three works at the head 

 of this article are somewhat misleading ; the order in 

 time of the respective travels is indicated by the sequence 

 of the titles. 



M. Marcoy's narrative is in some respects a puzzling 

 one. It may be said, so far as his own journey is con- 

 cerned, that there is not a single date in the whole book. 

 Whether this be the author's fault, or that of the pub- 

 lishers of this translation of his work, we do not know ; 

 but we deem it rather a serious one if the work is 

 put forth as the genuine narrative of a traveller 

 who wishes to be regarded as a trustworthy observer 

 and recorder of phenomena, many of which may alter 

 in ^ the course of a very few years. M. Marcoy's ob- 

 servations as to the condition of the prehistoric remains 

 of Peru, of the condition of the peoples, both dominant 

 and native, with whom he came in contact, of the 

 state of rivers, of the fauna and even of the flora, 

 will be deprived of no small amount of their value 



Fig. I.— Bark Canoe of Wild Indians (Araras and Caiipunas).— Kell 



there is any doubt as to the date at which they were 

 made. From internal evidence we conclude that the 

 journey from I slay to Para was made during the twelve 

 months following July either of 1847 or 184S ; and we 

 learn from St. Martin's recently published '' History of 

 Geography " that M. Marcoy was in the country about 

 that time. But the work is thoroughly French from 

 beginning to end, from the theatrical pose and costume 

 of the author's portrait in the frontispiece to the final 

 "Vale." We certainly believe that M. Marcoy made 

 the journey across the South American continent about 

 the year 184S, and that the work before us contains a 

 narrative of what he heard and saw ; but the author 

 evidently studies effect so much, both in his illustra- 

 tions and his style of writing, that one is apt to have 

 a feeling that not unfrequently strict accuracy has 

 been sacrificed, and that the author has given way 

 to the very French failing of a love of exaggeration. 



This, we think, is particularly seen in the author's account 

 of the French scientific expedition, in the company ot 

 which he performed part of his journey. His portrait of 

 the " Count de la Blanche-Epine," as he calls the leader 

 of the expedition, is evidently a caricature, and we fear 

 the same may be said of several other portraits in the book ; 

 and whenever he refers to the Count — and he does so 

 lid nauscivn — it is invariably with so much bitterness, that 

 one is apt to think the Count had snubbed the somewhat 

 Bohemian but evidently sensitive traveller. 



But that the narrative has been revised within the last few 

 years, is evident from several passages. He refers to occur- 

 rences which took place in 1S66 ; and while sailing down 

 the Amazon he discusses the value of observations which 

 must have been made years after his journey. Throughout 

 the work the personal narrative is frequently so mixed up 

 with information obtained by the author either at other 

 times — for he was many years in South America — or at 



