TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE 



At a period when the pecuHar situation of the 

 immense countries in America, formerly belonging 

 to the crowns of Spain and Portugal, so powerfully 

 Claims the attention of the politician, the statesman, 

 and the merchant, no more can be required to 

 recommend a work like that here offered to the 

 public, than the assurance that it is not a mere 

 compilation, got up to meet the exigencies of the 

 moment, but a real and authentic narrative, of a 

 journey through a great extent of a most interest- 

 ing country, hitherto but imperfectly, or not at 

 all explored, and performed by persons every 

 way qualified to gather ample materials for 

 both instruction and entertainment. That such 

 a feeling is very general may be inferred from the 

 numerous works that have been published of late 

 years relating to different parts of South America. 

 In exploring this vast continent, peculiar merit 

 belongs to the Germans, to whom the illustrious 

 name of Von Humboldt alone, secures, without 

 dispute, the palm of superiority. The removal of 

 the Court of Portugal from Lisbon to Rio de 



