It took thirteen years of the hardest work to put together the results of D'Orbigny's extensive researches. His book, which embraces nearly every branch of science, leaves far behind it all that had ever before been published on South America. History, archaeology, zoology, and botany all hold honoured positions in it; but the most important part of this encyclopaedic work is that relating to American man. In it the author embodies all the documents he himself collected, and analyzes and criticizes those which came to him at second hand, on physiological types, and on the manners, languages, and religions of South America. A work of such value ought to immortalize the name of the French scholar, and reflect the greatest honour on the nation which gave him birth. END OF THE FIRST PART. PART II. CHAPTER I. VOYAGES ROUND THE WORLD, AND POLAR EXPEDITIONS. The Russian fur trade--Kruzenstern appointed to the command of an expedition--Noukha-Hiva--Nangasaki--Reconnaisance of the coast of Japan--Yezo--The Ainos--Saghalien--Return to Europe--Otto von Kotzebue--Stay at Easter Island--Penrhyn--The Radak Archipelago--Return to Russia--Changes at Otaheite and the Sandwich Islands--Beechey's Voyage--Easter Island--Pitcairn and the mutineers of the _Bounty_--The Paumoto Islands--Otaheite and the Sandwich Islands--The Bonin Islands--Lutke--The Quebradas of Valparaiso--Holy week in Chili--New Archangel--The Kaloches--Ounalashka--The Caroline Archipelago--The canoes of the Caroline Islanders--Guam, a desert island--Beauty and happy situation of the Bonin Islands--The Tchouktchees: their manners and their conjurors--Return to Russia. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the Russians for the first time took part in voyages round the world, Until that time their explorations had been almost entirely confined to Asia, and their only mariners of note were Behring, Tchirikoff, Spangberg, Laxman, Krenitzin, and Saryscheff. The last-named took an important part in the voyage of the Englishman Billings, a voyage by the way which was far from achieving all that might have been fairly expected from the ten years it occupied and the vast sums it cost. Adam John von Kruzenstern was the first Russian to whom is due the honour of having made a voyage round the world under government auspices and with a scientific purpose. Born in 1770, Kruzenstern entered the English navy in 1793. After six years' training in the stern school which then numbered amongst its leaders the most skilful sailors of the world, he returned to his native land with a profound knowledge of his profession, and with his ideas of the part Russia might play in Eastern Asia very considerably widened.