2 



INTRODUCTION. 



The eyes of naturalists were long directed with peculiar eagerness 

 to Brazil, that happily situated country, which promised such an 

 ample harvest to gratify curiosity, but which had hitherto been so 

 carefully closed against every inquirer. 



Our information respecting this early discovered and highly in- 

 teresting region was confined to the reports of some early travellers, 

 the communications of Spanish and Portuguese navigators, the more 

 satisfactory accounts given by the Jesuitsj and the observations of 

 Marcgraf and Piso. Within a short period, however, very favour- 

 able changes have taken place in those circumstances which formerly 

 impeded researches into the state of Brazil. Amongst others, the 

 aspect of affairs in Europe induced the Monarch to transfer his re- 

 sidence to a country, which had not been yet seen by its sovereign, 

 though it was the principal source of his riches. 



This emigration of the Sovereign and his Court could not fail to have 

 a great and beneficial influence on the country. The oppressive sys- 

 tem of mysterious exclusion was abolished ; confidence took the place 

 of timid distrust, and foreign travellers were allowed access to this 

 field of new discoveries. The liberal sentiments of a wise King, 

 seconded by an enlightened Ministry, not only gave admission to stran- 

 gers, but even promoted their researches in the most liberal manner. 

 Thus Mr. Mawe obtained leave to examine those rich diamond mines, 

 to which no foreigner had till then been allowed to penetrate ; and 

 traversed a part of the province of Minas Geraes, with a view to the 

 study of its mineralogy. Some German travellers have since visited 

 that province. Lieutenant-colonel Von Eschwege, of the Royal Corps of 

 Engineers at Villa Rica, has been enabled, by several years^ residence 

 in Brazil, to publish some interesting essays ; and we may reasonably 

 expect many important discoveries from this gentleman, who possesses 

 such an ample fund of solid knowledge. He measured the higher 

 chains of the mountains of Minas, sketched their profile, and 



DSI 



