PREFACE. 



vii 



at the deficiency, although the field, far fi^om 

 being exhausted, each day acquires new in- 

 terest. 



There are some, whose complaints of want 

 of information are much more limited; they 

 mean that there is no satisfactory account of 

 the actual state of the different countries of 

 South America, or of the nature and conse- 

 quences of the dreadful wars, which, for the 

 last ten years, have crimsoned its soil. Of the 

 justice of this complaint, there can be no doubt. 

 The simple perusal of the small volume enti- 

 tled, an "Outline of the Revolutions in South 

 America," will satisfy any one how much curi- 

 ous and interesting information may be given. 

 The reports of the commissioners sent out by 

 the United States, at the same time that they 

 add greatly to what has already been obtained, 

 sho\y how much is yet to be known; and even 

 these, although very generally perused, have 

 been studied by few. Why then it will be 

 asked, do I swell the pile of unappropriated, 

 neglected information, by the addition of two 

 octavo volumes? 



It is certainly not with the vain hope, of be- 

 ing able to give a full and satisfactory account 

 of all things worth knowing in relation to one 

 half the habitable world. Wlio is there that 

 will be found so adventurous, as to attempt the 

 explanation of all things relating to the geogra- 



