Chapter I: Preface

The numerous alterations I have made in this new edition of the ‘Tropical World,’ both by the attentive revision of its former contents, and the addition of new chapters descriptive of the chief characteristics of the various tropical races of man; as well as the care I have taken to condense as much information as possible within narrow limits, will, I hope, justify my assertion that I have done my best to please indulgent readers, and to merit the favourable verdict of severer critics.

Dr. HARTWIG.

Salon Villas, Ludwigsburg (Würtemburg):
_March 10, 1873_.

CONTENTS.

Page

CHAPTER I.

THE DIVERSITY OF CLIMATES WITHIN THE TROPICS.

Causes by which it is produced--Abundance and Distribution of
Rain within the Tropics--The Trade Winds--The Belt of Calms--
Tropical Rains--The Monsoons--Tornados--Cyclones--Typhoons--
Storms in the Pacific--Devastations caused by Hurricanes on
Pitcairn Island and Rarotonga 1

CHAPTER II.

THE LLANOS.

Their Aspect in the Dry Season--Vegetable Sources--Sand Spouts--
Effects of the Mirage--A Savannah on Fire--Opening of the Rainy
Season--Miraculous Changes--Exuberance of Animal and Vegetable
Life--Conflict between Horses and Electrical Eels--Beauty of
the Llanos at the Termination of the Rainy Season--The Mauritia
Palm 11

CHAPTER III.

THE PUNA, OR THE HIGH TABLE-LANDS OF PERU AND BOLIVIA.

Striking Contrast with the Llanos--Northern Character of their
Climate--The Chuñu--The Surumpe--The Veta: its Influence upon
Man, Horses, Mules, and Cats--The Vegetation of the Puna--The
Maca--The Llama: its invaluable Services--The Huanacu--The
Alpaca--The Vicuñas: Mode of Hunting Them--The Chacu--The
Bolas--The Chinchilla--The Condor--Wild Bulls and Wild Dogs--
Lovely Mountain Valleys 20

CHAPTER IV.

THE PERUVIAN SAND-COAST.

Its desolate Character--The Mule is here the ‘Ship of the
Desert.’--A Shipwreck and its Consequences--Sand-Spouts--
Medanos--Summer and Winter--The Garuas--The Lomas--Change
produced in their Appearance during the Season of Mists--Azara’s
Fox--Wild Animals--Birds--Reptiles--The Chincha or Guano
Islands 30

CHAPTER V.

THE AMAZONS, THE GIANT RIVER OF THE TORRID ZONE.

The Course of the Amazons and its Tributaries--The Strait of
Obydos--Tide Waves on the Amazons--The Black-water rivers--
The Rio Negro--The Bay of the Thousand Isles--The Pororocca--
Rise of the River--The Gapo--Magnificent Scenery--Different
Character of the Forests beyond and within the verge of
Inundation--General Character of the Banks--A Sail on the
Amazons--A Night’s Encampment--The ‘Mother of the Waters’--
The Piranga--Dangers of Navigating on the Amazons--Terrific
Storms--Rapids and Whirlpools--The Stream of the Future--
Travels of Orellana--Madame Godin 36

CHAPTER VI.

THE PRIMEVAL FORESTS OF TROPICAL AMERICA.

Their peculiar Charms and Terrors--Disappointments and
Difficulties of the Botanist--The Bush-ropes--Variety of Trees
and Plants--Trees with Buttresses--Numberless parasites--
Character of the Primitive Forest according to its Site--Its
Aspect during the Rainy Season--A Hurricane in the Forest--
Beauty of the Forest after the Rainy Season--Our Home Scenes
equally beautiful--Bird Life on the rivers of Guiana--Morning
Concert--Repose of Nature at Noon--Nocturnal Voices of the
Forest 53