A journey in Brazil 1867 Travel and History Guide PDF book

Great Travel Book about Brazil more than 500 pages but joy to read embedded with beautiful illustrations. written by Two Scientists





Brazilian Woman Illustration from the book









Excerpt from the introduction

1867

Updated

In the winter of 1865, it became necessary for me, on account of some disturbance of my health, to seek a change of scene and climate, with rest from work.Europe was proposed; but though there is much enjoyment for a naturalist in contact with the active scientific life of the Old World, there is little intellectual rest. Toward Brazil, I was drawn by a lifelong desire. After the death of Spix, when a student of twenty years of age,I had been employed by Martins to describe the fishes they had brought back with them from their celebrated Brazilian journey. From that time, they wish to study this fauna in the regions where it belongs had been an ever-recurring thought with me; a scheme deferred for want of opportunity, but never quite forgotten. The fact that the Emperor of Brazil was deeply interested in all scientific undertakings, and had expressed a warm sympathy with my efforts to establish a great zoological museum in this country, aiding me even by sending collections made expressly under his order for the purpose, was an additional incentive.I knew that the head of the government would give me every facility for my investigations. Nevertheless, tempting as was the prospect of a visit to Brazil, as a mere vacation it had little charm for me. Single-handed, I could make slight use of the opportunities I should have; and though the excursion might be a pleasant one for myself, it would have no important result for science.I could not forget that, had I only the necessary means, I might make collections on this journey which, whenever our building could be so enlarged as to give room for their exhibition, would place the Museum in Cambridge on a level with the first institutions of the kind. But for this, a working force would be needed, and I saw no possibility of providing for such an undertaking.While I was brooding over these thoughts I chanced to meet Mr. Na- Thaniel Thayer, whom I have ever found a generous friend to science. The idea of appealing to him for a scheme of this magnitude had not, however, occurred to me; but he introduced the subject, and, after expressing his interest in my proposed journey, added, " You wish, of course, to give it a scientific character; take six assistants with you, and I will be responsible for all their expenses, personal and scientific."It was so simply said, and seemed to me so great a boon, that at first I hardly believed I had heard him rightly. In the end, I had cause to see in how large and liberal a sense he proffered his support to the expedition, which, as is usual in such cases, proved longer and more costly than was at first anticipated. Not only did he provide most liberally for assistants, but, until the last specimen was stored in the Museum, ho continued to advance whatever sums were needed, always desiring me to inform him should any- additional expenses occur on closing up the affairs of the expedition.It seems to me that the good arising from the knowledge of such facts justifies me in speaking here of these generous deeds, accomplished so unostentatiously that they might otherwise pass unnoticed. All obstacles thus removed from my path, I made my preparations for departure as rapidly as possible. The assistants I selected to accompany me were Mr. James Burkhardt as an artist, Mr. John G. Anthony as a conchologist, Mr. Frederick C. Hartt, and Mr. Orestes St. John as geologists, Mr. John A. Allen as an ornithologist, and Mr. George Sceva as a preparator. Besides these, my party was enlarged by several volunteers, to whom I was indebted for assistance as untiring and efficient as if they had been engaged for the purpose. These were Mr. Newton Dexter, Mr. William James, Mr. Edward Copeland, Mr. Thomas Ward, Mr. Walter Hunnewell, and Mr. S. V. R. Thayer.I should not omit to mention my brother-in-law, Mr. Thomas G. Gary, as one of my aids; for, though not nominally connected with the expedition, he made collections for me at Monte Video, Buenos Ayres, and other places. I was also joined by my friends Dr. and Mrs. Cotting. Dr. Cotting, like myself, was in need of a vacation, and it was his intention to remain with us for as long a time as he could spare from his professional practice.