Chapter I: Preface

This volume needs no elaborate preface. A general sketch of the voyage which it describes was published in the 'Times' immediately after our return to England. That letter is reprinted here as a convenient summary of the 'Sunbeam's' performances. But these prefatory lines would indeed be incomplete if they did not contain a well-deserved tribute to the industry and accuracy of the author. The voyage would not have been undertaken, and assuredly it would never have been completed, without the impulse derived from her perseverance and determination. Still less would any sufficient record of the scenes and experiences of the long voyage have been preserved had it not been for her painstaking desire not only to see everything thoroughly, but to record her impressions faithfully and accurately. The practised skill of a professional writer cannot reasonably be expected in these simple pages, but their object will have been attained if they are the means of enabling more home-keeping friends to share in the keen enjoyment of the scenes and adventures they describe.

THOMAS BRASSEY

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

I. FAREWELL TO OLD ENGLAND

II. MADEIRA, TENERIFFE, AND CAPE DE VERDE ISLANDS

III. PALMA TO RIO DE JANEIRO

IV. RIO DE JANEIRO

V. THE RIVER PLATE

VI. LIFE ON THE PAMPAS

VII. MORE ABOUT THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC

VIII. RIVER PLATE TO SANDY POINT, STRAITS OF MAGELLAN

IX. SANDY POINT TO LOTA BAY

X. CHILI

XI. SANTIAGO AND VALPARAISO

XII. VALPARAISO TO TAHITI

XIII. THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS

XIV. AT TAHITI

XV. TAHITI TO SANDWICH ISLANDS--KILAUEA BY DAY AND BY NIGHT

XVI. HAWAIIAN SPORTS

XVII. HONOLULU--DEPARTURE FOR JAPAN

XVIII. HONOLULU TO YOKOHAMA

XIX. YOKOHAMA

XX. KIOTO, LATE MIACO

XXI. THE INLAND SEA

XXII. TO CANTON UP THE PEARL RIVER

XXIII. FROM MACAO TO SINGAPORE

XXIV. SINGAPORE

XXV. CEYLON

XXVI. TO ADEN

XXVII. VIA SUEZ CANAL

XXVIII. 'HOME'