iii 



fore consigned our observations in a series 

 of separate works, compiled in the same 

 view, and connected with each other by the 

 nature of the phenomena which they ex- 

 plain. This sort of composition betrays 

 more readily the imperfection of partial 

 labors, and therefore is unfavorable to the 

 self-love of the traveller ; but it is highly 

 preferable for whatever relates to the phy- 

 sical and mathematical sciences, because 

 the different branches of those sciences are 

 seldom cultivated by the same class of 

 readers. 



I had in view a double purpose in the 

 travels, of which I now publish the histori- 

 cal narrative. I wished to make known 

 the countries I had visited ; and to collect 

 such facts as are fitted to elucidate a sci- 

 ence, of which we have possessed scarcely 

 the outline, and which has been vaguely 

 denominated natural history of the world, 

 theory of the Earth, or physical geography. 

 The last of these two objects seemed to 

 me the most important. I was passionate- 

 ly devoted to botany, and certain parts of 

 zoology, and I flattered myself that our 

 investigations might add some new species 



b 2 



