PREFACE* 



Washington City, January 25, 1854, 



Sir: A Passed Midshipman, suddenly drawn from duty at 

 the National Observatory, in Washington, to enter upon an 

 exploration of distant lands and rivers, among strange and 

 divers people, will not be expected to furnish a polished re- 

 port of observations made under many disadvantages. 



In revising notes, hastily scribbled upon a mule's back, on 

 mountains, or in a canoe, the writer has endeavored to present 

 familiar images of the objects he saw, as they impressed him 

 at the time, leaving intelligent readers to draw their own con- 

 clusions from his facts, or the best information he could gain 

 from reliable sources on the route. 



The statesman, the planter, the merchant, the farmer, the 

 manufacturer, or the artisan, can estimate, from every-day oc- 

 currences, in what manner habits and customs of inhabitants 

 of the southern continent, or productions of its climates, lands, 

 rivers, forests, and mines, may advantage the industry or 

 promote the enterprise of the people of the United States of 

 North America. 



Being limited by instructions, the writer commences his 

 observations at the division of the naval party at Tarma, in 

 Peru, and closes them on reaching the mouth of the Madeira 

 river, in Brazil. 



Descriptions of fishes collected from snow-water lakes and 

 streams in Peru or Bolivia, and from rivers in Brazil, botanical 

 specimens, varieties of birds, different ores, earth, and metals 

 procured on the journey, are unavoidably omitted. 



Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



LARDNER GIBBON, 



Lieutenant U. S. Navy. 



Hon. James C. Dobbin, 



Secretary of the Navy, Washington. 



