GERSTACKER, FRIEDRICH, a German novelist and traveler, was b. at Hamburg, May 16, 1816. In 1837, he went to America. After spending sonic months in lie began his wanderings through the United States, sometimes as a stoker or sailor in various steam-packets, sometimes as a silversmith, a woodcutter, a maker of pill-boxes, etc., working till be had earned money enough to citable him to proceed further. He also led for a considerable period a wild adventurous life as a hunter in, the forests. In 1842, he set up a hotel at Point Coupee, in Louisiana; but in 1843, a strong`desire to see his friends induced him to return to Germany. Here he published his admirable Strelf und Jagdziige durch die Preinigten Staaten (2 vols., Dresden, 1844). This was followed by his Die Regulatoren in Arkansas (3 vols., Leip., 1846), Die Flusspiraten des Mississippi (3 vols., Leip., 1848), Nississippibilder, Licht- und Sehattenseiten transatlant isehen ',chant (2 vols., Dresden, 1847), and Amerik. Wald- mat Strombilder (2 vols., Leip.,
1849). In his popular writings, as the Reisen um die Welt (6 vols., Leip., 1847), and Der Deutschen Auswanderer Bahrten und Sehichsale (Leip., 1847),), Gerstacker contrives to rivet the attention even of the uneducated reader. In 1862, he accompanied the duke Ernest of Gotha on his travels in Egypt and Abyssinia; and on his return lived some time in Gotha. In 1867-68, he undertook the longest journey of his life, visiting North America, Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela, and the West Indies; and published, in 1868, Neue Reisen, in which he gives a, vivid account of them. As to novels, lie published among others, Eine Mutter, in 1867; Die Missiondre, in 1868; Die Blauen und die Caen. in 1870; In Mexico; In America; Herrn .Mahlhuber's Reiseabenteuer (3d ed. 1871). He died in 1872.