Travels in Peru. On the Coast, in the Sierra, across the Cordilleras and the Andes, into the Primeval Forests

Description

THE Work from which the present Volume is translated consists of extracts from the Author s Journal, accompanied by his recol lections and observations. The absence of chronological ar rangement will be sufficiently accounted for, when it is explained that the zoological investigations for which the journey was undertaken frequently required the Author to make repeated visits to one particular place or district, or to remain for a con siderable time within the narrow circuit of a few miles ; and sometimes to travel rapidly over vast tracts of country. Dis claiming any intention of making one of those travelling roman ces, with which the tourist literature of the day is overstocked, the Author has confined himself to a plain description of facts and things as they came within the sphere of his own observa tion. But though Dr. Tschudi lays claim to no merit beyond the truthfulness of his narrative, yet the reader will no doubt readily concede to him the merit of extensive information, and happy descriptive talent. His pictures of Nature, especially those relating to the animal world, are frequently imbued with much of the charm of thought and style which characterizes the writings of Buffon. Lima, the oldest and most interesting of the cities founded by the Spaniards on the western coast of South America, has been frequently described ; but no previous writer has painted so aniPREFACE. mated a picture of the city and its inhabitants, as that contained in the following volume. After quitting the capital of Peru, Dr. Tschudi went over ground previously untrodden by any Euro pean traveller. He visited the Western Sierra, the mighty chain of the Cordilleras, the boundless level heights, the deep moun tain valleys on the eastern declivity of the Andes, and the vast primeval forests. Whilst recounting his wanderings in these distant regions, he describes not only the country and the people, but every object of novelty and interest in the animal, vegetable, and mineral creations. Those lovers of Natural History who are familiar with the German language, and who may wish to make themselves exten sively acquainted with the animal world, in those parts of Peru visited by Dr. Tschudi, will find abundant information on the subject in his work, with plates, entitled " Untersuchungen iiber die Fauna Peruana." The present Publication, though con taining a vast deal to interest the naturalist, is addressed to the general reader, and will, it is presumed, gratify curiosity respect ing the highly interesting and little known regions to which it relates. It may fairly be said that no previous writer has given so comprehensive a picture of Peru ; combining, with animated sketches of life and manners, a fund of valuable information on Natural History and Commerce.