AUTHOR’S PREFACE.

During the time that the present work was in course of printing, the author had the honour of being allowed to lay parts of it before several of the most renowned men of science, whose favourable opinions of them he prefixes to his own introductory lines; as in them he finds the best proof that his endeavours have not been quite destitute of result.

I. Extract from a letter of His Excellency Baron Alexander v. Humboldt, Member of the King’s Privy Council, and Chamberlain to His Majesty, at Berlin.

Acknowledging the noble purpose which you have pursued in your travels in distant lands to ascertain the condition of a scattered and oppressed people, I have read with much interest several portions of your book.

You portray conditions of degradation in the oppressed, and of arbitrary power in the oppressors, which are but little known in Europe, and which will assuredly and with justice induce many to peruse your work.

May your new undertakings be likewise attended with success!

Berlin, March 25th 1858.

Alexander von Humboldt.