"Upon my return t to the United States a few months ago after the extraordinary series of adventure in the South Seas and elsewhere of which an account is giv-en in the following pages accident threw me into the society of several gentlemen in Richmond Va. who felt deep interest in all matters relating to the regions I had visited and who were constantly urging it upon me as a duty to give my narrative to the public. I had several reasons however for declining to do so some of which were of a nature altogether private and con-cern no person but myself; others not so much so."