Travels in Brazil, in the Years 1817-1820

First published in 1824, this is a two-volume English translation of part of the account by German naturalists Johann Baptist von Spix (1781-1826) and Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius (1794-1868) of their Brazilian expedition, one of the nineteenth century's great scientific enterprises. Despite debilitating conditions (which would contribute to Spix's premature death), they accumulated a spectacular collection of specimens, including dozens of live animals and over 10,000 other examples of flora and fauna. Although no further volumes appeared, this wide-ranging work formed part of the library aboard the Beagle during Darwin's famous voyage. Volume 2 covers the expedition's progress from São Paulo, through the state of Minas Gerais, to Villa Rica (now Ouro Preto) up to May 1818. One of the illustrations depicts the two indigenous children, Juri and Miranha, who were taken back to Munich. Several popular songs in Portuguese form an appendix.