INTRODUCTION. 



9 



introduced from necessity, and in places more appropriately occupied by other 

 species. If it had not been from want of time, more imposing views of the 

 Caroline and Marianne Islands would have been produced. But here must be 

 repeated an observation formerly accepted as correct, but again disputed, that the 

 vegetation of such widely separated and small islands, always is far inferior, 

 especially as regards variety, to that of larger countries of the same zone. Seem- 

 ingly, the reason of this fact is not to be sought in a certain sterility of these islands, 

 but rather in the long distance that separates them from other countries, as well 

 as in their small size. The island of Ualan, for instance, of which several views 

 are given, combines all the known conditions of a grand vegetation, — a proximity 

 to the equator, constant atmospheric moisture, and plenty of water to irrigate the 

 rich, originally volcanic soil ; in consequence of this it is to the very summit of its 

 mountain peaks densely covered with luxuriant forests. Yet, notwithstanding all 

 this luxuriance, and the beauty of forms peculiar to that part of the world, the 

 whole could by no means be compared in richness with the forests seen in the 

 neighbourhood of Kio de Janeiro, or in the island of Luzon, although they are 

 farther removed from the line, and do not possess those sources of fertility in such 

 a high degree. Here also the character of continents predominates. On coasting 

 along Banka and Sumatra, we had afterwards an opportunity of seeing through 

 telescopes the character of the vegetation ; and here, where all those conditions 

 are found in an extensive country, the grandeur, beauty, and richness of form 

 seemed to surpass all we had previously witnessed. If, therefore, the Carolines 

 and Mariannes are not quite calculated to exhibit tropical vegetation in its 

 highest beauty, it is the more to be regretted that want of time prevented my 

 taking more views than are given of the splendid forests of Luzon. It was easy 

 to show in three or four sheets the principal physiognomic peculiarities of the 

 smaller islands ; but here I was compelled to leave the real treasures as it were 

 untouched. 



The gravest fault of the present publication will doubtless be the poverty of 

 the accompanying botanical remarks. Fully confiding in the zeal and science of 

 my friend Mertens, I never thought of devoting the little spare time at my disposal 

 to observations already better made by him. His loss was to us an unexpected 

 misfortune, very nearly deterring me from laying these " Views " before the 

 public. But, forming a complete whole by themselves, they may venture to 

 appear even with the scanty and superficial explanation that can be offered, 

 leaving it to future naturalists to fill up with a few words unavoidable blanks. 



