PREFACE.
Washington City, January 25, 1854.
Sir: A Passed Midshipman, suddenly drawn from duty at the National Observatory, in Washington, to enter upon an exploration of distant lands and rivers, among strange and divers people, will not be expected to furnish a polished report of observations made under many disadvantages.
In revising notes, hastily scribbled upon a mule's back, on mountains, or in a canoe, the writer has endeavored to present familiar images of the objects he saw, as they impressed him at the time, leaving intelligent readers to draw their own conclusions from his facts, or the best information he could gain from reliable sources on the route.
The statesman, the planter, the merchant, the farmer, the manufacturer, or the artisan, can estimate, from every-day occurrences, in what manner habits and customs of inhabitants of the southern continent, or productions of its climates, lands, rivers, forests, and mines, may advantage the industry or promote the enterprise of the people of the United States of North America.
Being limited by instructions, the writer commences his observations at the division of the naval party at Tarma, in Peru, and closes them on reaching the mouth of the Madeira river, in Brazil.
Descriptions of fishes collected from snow-water lakes and streams in Peru or Bolivia, and from rivers in Brazil, botanical specimens, varieties of birds, different ores, earth, and metals procured on the journey, are unavoidably omitted.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
LARDNER GIBBON,
Lieutenant U. S. Navy.
Hon. James C. Dobbin,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington.