This volume is an account of Johann Jakob von Tschudi's travels across Peru, beginning with his departure from France in 1838, rounding Cape Horn, and landing at the island of Chiloe. He provides a meticulous study of the local geography, harsh climate, poor agricultural conditions, and unique social customs of the inhabitants of Chiloe. After a hazardous voyage north, he arrives in Valparaiso during a period of intense political turmoil marked by Chile's war against the Peru-Bolivian Confederation. Tschudi describes the bustling seaport, the military preparations, and the wretched state of the invading fleet.
He then details his voyage to the island of Juan Fernandez, famously associated with Alexander Selkirk, before reaching Callao and Lima. The author gives a comprehensive topographical and historical overview of Lima, analyzing its architecture, the earthquake hazards that threaten the city, and the rigid social stratification among its diverse populations, including white Creoles, Indians, negroes, and various mixed races. He also examines the flora and fauna of the region, detailing agriculture, irrigation, and the striking array of birds and mammals found along the coast and interior valleys, concluding with observations on the dangers of travel and the pervasive threat of highway robbery on the Peruvian coast.
