Engd by W. G. Jackman, New York, from a Drawing by E.Saintin
TWENTY YEARS
AROUND THE WORLD.
BY
JOHN GUY VASSAR.
NEW YORK:
RUDD & CARLETON, 130 GRAND STREET.
M DCCC LXI.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-one, by
JOHN GUY VASSAR
In the Clerk’s office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District ofNew York.
R. CRAIGHEAD,
Printer, Stereotyper, and Electrotyper,
Caxton Building,
81, 83, and 85 Centre Street.
TO
MATTHEW VASSAR, ESQ.,
FOUNDER OF THE VASSAR FEMALE COLLEGE, AT POUGHKEEPSIE,
WHOSE FRIENDSHIP AND COUNSEL
HAVE BEEN AMONG THE CHIEF PLEASURES OF MY LIFE,
These Letters
ARE AFFECTIONATELY AND RESPECTFULLY
DEDICATED.
[v]
PREFACE.
Early in life the author of these letters suffered from ill-health, andnecessity obliged him to seek more genial climes in order to escape therigors of our northern winters. Duty towards his only brother and abeloved uncle induced him to sketch his travels, and keep them advisedof his movements. His letters passing into the hands of kind friends,for perusal, led to further inquiries; and demands for publication in aweekly paper in his native city, were the result.
He has always hesitated to come before the Public, although constantlysolicited and urged by his friends to do so, as a duty he owed tosociety; at length, through constant importuning, and to avoid theclamors of those he loves and esteems, he has concluded to accede totheir wishes. This book is the result.
Travelling becomes a passion with some, and in this instance, a decidedone. Necessity at first, with improvement in health, and findinghimself better on the move than when quiet, sight-seeing and obtaininggeneral information became more and more desirable.
After having seen every State and Capital in his own country, hisdesire was to visit every Capital in Europe. After having seen theantiquities and works of art of Italy, Greece, and Turkey, his ambitionled him to see the older objects of Egypt and Asia Minor. Then came thedesire to visit the Celestial Empire, and the East Indian world.
The West Indian Islands brought a disposition to see those ofthe Pacific, and those of the Mediterranean, the Levant, and thePolynesian, Canary, Cape de Verde, Azores. North America,[vi] includingthe Canadas, having been seen, South America in all parts could notbe neglected. Northern Africa, Egypt, Syria, Algeria, and Morocco hadbeen visited; but the western and south-western coast of Africa, theGulf of Guinea, demanded their share of effort and exposure. When inChina, he desired to visit Japan, but Commodore Perry had not yet madea treaty. While at Singapore, he wished to embark for Australia; butno opportunity offering during the typhoon season, he was obliged tore