Travels in Peru, on the Coast, in the Sierra, Across the Cordilleras and the Andes, into the Primeval Forests

The narrative records extended journeys along the Pacific coast, up the western sierra and over the high Andean ranges into ancient forests, combining travel-diary entries with natural-history field notes. It presents lively urban sketches of the capital and coastal ports, accounts of local customs, religious institutions, markets and entertainments, and practical details of roads, bridges, irrigation and agriculture. Along the route the writer surveys geology, climate, flora and fauna, catalogues species, examines ruins and mining, and reports on hazards of travel, economy and social composition, offering observational descriptions intended for both general readers and naturalists.