xvi PUmMGB. 



cruise which is the subject of this book. On his return to 

 Sydney he devoted some time and trouble in organising, for 

 tlie amusement of tlie people there, an exhibition of the 

 curious and interesting objects which had been collected. 

 At the close of this he went again to China, and thus made 

 his way back to Eiurope by the Great Desert of Gobi, 

 Siberia — in the depth of winter — and Eussia. 



Though he has left a large amount of notes made during 

 his journeys, he was more interested in collecting material 

 objects, illustrative and commemorative of his varied travels, 

 than in devoting himself to literary descriptions of them ; 

 the present work was the result of a promise. Of the rich 

 and varied collection which was the product of his visit to 

 the South Seas and other places, a portion, as observed 

 in the Preface, has found its way into the British Museum ; 

 but the principal part — consisting of birds, fishes, insects, 

 weapons, shells, canoes, models, and objects of various kinds, 

 illustrating the industry and arts of the different countries 

 through which he passed, including fine specimens of the 

 artistic and industrial products of Japan, China, Siberia, 

 and Eussia — has been presented to the museum of his native 

 town, Maidstone, to the enlargement and embellishment of 

 which, in various ways, he has also munificently contributed. 

 Thus, though travelling for his own instruction and amuse- 

 ment, he spared neither cost nor trouble in procuring what 

 he thought would contribute to the instruction and gratifi- 

 cation of others. 



