The Travels and Researchs of Alexander Von Humboldt

Brief Account of Humboldt's Journey to Asia, with a Sketch of the Four
great Chains of Mountains which intersect the central Part of that
Continent........

352

THE

TRAVELS AND RESEARCHES

BARON HUMBOLDT.

CHAPTER I.

Introduction.

Birth and Education of Humboldt--His early Occupations-He resolves to visit Africa-Is disappointed in his Views, and goes to Madrid, where he is introduced to the King, and obtains Permission to visit the Spanish Colonies-Observations made on the Journey through Spain-Geological Constitution of the Country between Madrid and Corunna-Climate-Ancient Submersion of the Shores of the Mediterranean-Reception at Corunna, and Preparations for the Voyage to South America.

WITH the name of Humboldt we associate all that is interesting in the physical sciences. No traveller who has visited remote regions of the globe, for the purpose of observing the varied phenomena of nature, has added so much to our stock of positive knowledge. While the navigator has explored the coasts of unknown lands, discovered islands and shores, marked the depths of the sea, estimated the force of currents, and noted the more obvious traits in the aspect of the countries at which he has touched; while the zoologist has investigated the multiplied forms of anímal life, the botanist the diversified vegetation, the geologist the structure and

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

relations of the rocky masses of which the exterior of the earth is composed; and while each has thus contributed to the illustration of the wonderful constitution of our planet, the distinguished traveller - whose discoveries form the subject of this volume stands alone as uniting in himself a knowledge of all these sciences. Geography, meteorology, magnetism, the distribution of heat, the various departments of natural history, together with the affinities of races and languages, the history of nations, the political constitution of countries, statistics, commerce, and agriculture,-all have received accumulated and valuable additions from the exercise of his rare talents. The narrative of no traveller, therefore, could be more interesting to the man of varied information. But as from a work like that of which the present volume constitutes a part subjects strictly scientific must be excluded, unless when they can be treated in a manner intelligible to the public at large, it may here be stated, that many of the investigations of which we present the results must be traced in the voluminous works which the author himself has published. At the same time enough will be given to gratify the scientific reader; and while the narrative of personal adventure, the diversified phenomena of the physical world, the condition of societies, and the numerous other subjects discussed, will afford amusement and instruction, let it be remembered that truths faithfully extracted from the book of nature are alone calculated to enlarge the sphere of mental vision; and that, while fanciful description is more apt to mislead than to direct the footsteps of the student, there is reflected from the actual examination of the material universe a light which never fails to conduct the mind at once to sure knowledge and to pious sentiment.

Frederick Henry Alexander Von Humboldt was born at Berlin, on the 14th of September, 1769. He received his academic education at Göttingen and

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