MA71CHAL MUSEUM MELfiCJUUNfc 
Preface to the German Edition, 
published in 1863. 
An Austrian man-of-war, His Majesty’s frigate Novara, 
conveyed me towards the end of the year 1858 to the shores of 
New Zealand. In the capacity of geologist, 1 was a member 
ol the Expedition fitted out under the orders of His Imperial 
Highness the Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian for a voyage 
round the world. 
By the kind arrangements of the Commander of this Ex- 
pedition, Vice-Admiral, then Commodore, Baron von Withers - 
torf-Urbair and by the timely preparations of the Colonial 
Government and the Colonists of New Zealand I was placed in 
such a position that I could fully devote myself for the space 
of nine months to the exploration of one of the most remark- 
able countries of the world, a beautiful country, which Albions 
enterprising sons, it’s occupiers, looking forward to a rich and 
blooming future, are wont to call “the Great- Britain of the 
South Sea.” 
Was it the amiable disposition of the inhabitants? Was 
it the ties of friendship, that I formed there? Or was it the 
grandeur and peculiarity of the natural features of a country, 
appearing in its isolation like a world of its own, that at- 
tracted me so strongly? I cannot say; but 1 still look back 
with enthusiasm to my stay in the Antipodes. 
