|
Travels in Brazil
by Karl von Martius
Book I, Chapter I
Departure from Munich;
Journey by way of Vienna to Triest.
page 1 ---earlier explorers-----
America, which was unknown
to us until within a few centuries, has, from the time of discovery, been
the object of the admiration and the regard of Europe.
The advantages of its situation, the fertility and diversified riches
of its soil, held out equal attraction to the European colonist and merchant,
and to the scientific inquirer. This new country was rapidly peopled,
and unfolded to our view, by the active intercourse with the mother country,
and by the exertions of learned men, who, animated by a laudable emulation,
endeavored to make themselves acquainted with it by extensive journeys
into the interior.
page 2 ----King of Bavaria orders expedition to South
America---
In this respect we are infinitely indebted to many enterprising travellers
of former times, but more particularly to those of the last half century, 
through whose immortal labors America has been more successfully
explored than any of the continents of the Old World, Europe alone excepted. Notwithstanding, however, the great advances we have made
in our acquaintance with this part of the world, it still offers so wide
a field for research and discovery as would greatly expand the sphere
of human knowledge. This observation is peculiarly applicable to Brazil,
the heart of this new continent; and which, although it is the most beautiful,
and most richly endowed portion, has been hitherto but thinly peopled
and imperfectly known. His Majesty the king of Bavaria, the generous
patron of the sciences, sensible to the advantages that would accrue to
them, and to the interests of mankind in general, from a more accurate
knowledge of America, directed the Academy of Sciences at Munich,
about the end of the year 1815, to draw up and lay before him, a plan
for a literary tour into the interior of South America. Among
others selected for this expedition, were the two academicians, authors
of the present narrative, Dr. Spix for zoology, and Dr. Martius for botany.
The original plan was, to proceed from Buenos
Aires by land to Chile;
thence to travel northwards to Quito;
and to return by way of Caracas or Mexico to Europe.
 
 
|
