INTRODUCTION, 



to the 13th degree of south latitude. Two Germans, Messrs. Frey- 

 reiss and Sellow, who intend to travel several years in the Brazils, 

 have found a generous patron in His Majesty the King of Portugal ; 

 it is scarcely possible for any foreigner to be better qualified than 

 they to penetrate into this country, since they are acquainted with 

 the language and manners, and have also prepared themselves by 

 several years spent in travelling. I made a part of my tour in the 

 company of these gentlemen, and received much interesting informa- 

 tion from Mr. Freyreiss, for which I beg leave to take this opportu- 

 nity of returning him my thanks. He will communicate to me 

 accounts of his future travels, as well as his discoveries in natural 

 history, which I shall feel happy to lay before the friends of such 

 inquiries. The present narrative must therefore be considered as the 

 precursor only of more interesting observations : further details and 

 additional researches will supply the deficiencies which occur in the 

 course of the work. I am fully sensible, how hazardous it is to 

 venture on publishing these remarks, made during a journey in a 

 portion of South America, after the appearance of the work of our 

 enlightened countryman Alexander von Humboldt ! Yet good inten- 

 tions, though accompanied by inferior abilities, are not undeserving 

 of notice ; and however little I can pretend to furnish any thing 

 perfect, still I presume to hope that the lovers of the study of natural 

 history, geography, manners, and customs, will find in my commu- 

 nications some contributions not wholly unimportant to the interests 

 of science and humanity. 



