PREFACE. 



Having accompanied Sir James Ross on his voyage of 

 discovery to the Antarctic regions, where botany was my 

 chief pursuit, on my return I earnestly desired to add to 

 my acquaintance with the natural history of the tempe- 

 rate zones, more knowledge of that of the tropics than 

 I had hitherto had the opportunity of acquiring. My 

 choice lay between India and the Andes, and I decided 

 upon the former, being principally influenced by Dr. 

 Falconer, Avho promised me every assistance which his 

 position as Superintendent of the H. E. I. C. Botanic 

 Garden at Calcutta, would enable him to give. He 

 also drew my attention to the fact that we were 

 ignorant even of the geography of the central and 

 eastern parts of these mountains, while all to the north 

 was involved in a mystery equally attractive to the 

 traveller and the naturalist. 



On hearing of the kind interest taken by Baron 

 Humboldt in my proposed travels, and at the request 

 of my father (Sir William Hooker), the Earl of 

 Carlisle (then Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests) 

 undertook to represent to Her Majesty's Government 



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