PREFACE. 



I shall have occasion, in many parts of the following 

 volume, to acknowledge the valuable information I have 

 received from several persons ; but I must particularly 

 express my obligations to Captain R. Moresby, I.N., who 

 conducted the survey of the Red Sea, and of the archi- 

 pelagoes of low coral-islands in the Indian Ocean. I beg 

 also to be permitted to return my best thanks to Captain 

 Beaufort, R.N., for having given me free access to the 

 charts in the Admiralty, as well as to Captain Beecher, 

 R.N., for most kindly aiding me in consulting them. My 

 thanks are likewise especially due to Captain Washington, 

 R.N., for his invariable desire to assist me in every possible 

 manner. Having in former publications had the pleasure 

 of acknowledging how much I owe to Captain Fitzroy, for 

 having permitted me to volunteer my services on board 

 H.M.S. Beagle, and for his uniform kindness in giving me 

 assistance in my researches, I can here only repeat my 

 obligations to him. The materials for this volume were 

 nearly ready two years ago ; but owing to ill-health its 

 publication has been delayed. The two succeeding Parts, — 

 one on the volcanic islands visited during the voyage of the 

 Beagle, and the other on South America, — will appear as 

 soon as they can be prepared. 



2nd May 1842. 



