PREFACE. 



xi 



some of the Austrian naturalists which have ap- 

 peared in different German journals. Professor 

 Natterer, one of the most distinguished of the latter, 

 has not yet returned to Europe, but may be expected 

 in the course of this year. With regard to Messrs. 

 Spix and Martins, they have adopted, in a great 

 measure, the plan of Baron Von Humboldt, having 

 published, besides this personal narrative, three or 

 four separate works, each exclusively dedicated to 

 some one branch of natural history. 



As the volumes now offered to the public con- 

 tain only the first half of the personal narrative, 

 (the remaining part being in the press) it may not 

 be irrelevant to acquaint the reader, that notwith- 

 standing the interest which it is hoped will be 

 excited by these volumes, it may be justly expected 

 that the remaining part will be found to possess 

 still greater novelty, and to afford more ample 

 information, and more striking incidents. In con- 

 firmation of this assurance, I add the following out- 

 line of the latter part of their travels in Brazil. 

 The fatigues that they had to endure in the 

 sequel of their expedition having brought on se- 

 vere illness, they rested for a time in the capitania 

 of Maranham, whence, as soon as they were suf- 

 ficiently recovered, they proceeded to the island of 

 St. Louis, and after a six days' voyage by sea, 

 from that place, landed at Para. Having at length 

 reached the banks of the majestic and immense 

 river of the Amazons, bounded by a lofly and 



