PREFACE. 



Janeiro, opened an extensive field of research, 

 of which the Germans amply availed themselves. 

 Many men, well-versed in different branches of 

 science, especially mineralogy, entered into the 

 service of the Court of Rio de Janeiro, and 

 very interesting communications, sent by them, 

 have been published in the German literary jour- 

 nals, though it is to be regretted that few of them 

 have become known in this country. The mar- 

 riage of an Austrian Princess with the Crown 

 Prince of Brazil, gave, however, the most powerful 

 stimulus to the German literati, and the fairest op- 

 portunity for visiting Brazil with all the advantages 

 that the protection of the government could afford. 

 Accordingly the Emperor of Austria sent several 

 learned men, well skilled in the various depart- 

 ments of natural history and natural philosophy, 

 in the suite of the Archduchess his daughter, and 

 His Majesty the King of Bavaria embraced this 

 favourable opportunity to send two members of the 

 Academy of Sciences at Munich, who would thus 

 be under the protection of the Austrian embassy, 

 and enjoy the best recommendation to the Court of 

 Rio de Janeiro. The particulars being detailed in 

 the first chapter of this work, it is unnecessary to 

 dwell on them here j but it may be observed that this 

 is the first accour^t yet published by any of the Ger- 

 man literati who went to Brazil with the Austrian 

 legation, excepting some essays on subjects of natu- 

 ral history, as well by the authors of this work, as by 



