The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-10-19
fERoM TIE EDINsURG0 REvIEw ,

tyaordinoyy interest.
CERoM TIE EDINBURGH REVIEW
zs5ieas Physique des Regions Equatoriaie,, &c.
Pa, AIexandre De Hum6oiat Ito. Payis, 1907, CT
seaq.
No name stands higher than that of Humboldt,
among the lovers of geographical and physical
science In exploring the tropical regions of the
new world, this accomplished traveller has dis
played \ resolution and perseverance that have
never been surpassed by any former adventurer.
Very few individuals, indeed, were better quail
fed than NJ de Humboldt, for executing that ar.
duous undertaking. Jealous, active, vigorous,
imbued with liberal knowledge skilled in ge.
neral physicks, and particularly attached to chy-
mistry, and its kindred branches possessing am
pie means of induging his taste, while thrsting
sfter discoveries, and fired with emulation and
the generous passion of farne--he has directed
his inquiries into every department of nature and
of society.
The mass ofcurious information which he pro
cured in those distant travels, and the superb
collections which he was enabled to make rela.
tive to different objects of science, far exceed a
ny thing that has heretofore been achieved BY the
exertions of an Individual. Much interesting
light is thus cast on the history of our species
the limits of accurate geography are extended !;
& the stores of botany, zoology, & mineralogy are
bic acquisitions, classed under distinct heads are
to be brought out successfully, in style of exc
cution, unrivallcd for elegance and splendour-
But the impatience of the public outruns the tar
dy pace of the printer and enEraver Some por.
tions, indeed, of the composition have, at inter-
walls, appeared but they are still unfinished and
disjointed nor is the narrative of the voyage,
which will occupy five quarto volumes, even yet
begun. Three years have been already spent in
publishing what is now before us and perhaps
rs many more will elapse before the whole shall
be completed. In this. stage of its progress,
therefore, we trust that we shall CRAFTY the Gu
riosty of our readers, by sketchng out a picture
of the general results --We shall afterwards
have occasion TO consider the details, and to sub
ject the facts and observations to critical exa-
nnation..
NJ. de Humboldt is Prussian gentleman of
good estate, who has devoted his time & his for
tune to the pursuits of liberal curiosity: Promp-
ted by such motives, at the age twenty one, he
began to travel over Europe and in the space of
six years he traversed Germany and visited Pc.
land, France, Switzerland, part of England, Ita
", Hungary and Spain.--Returning to Paris in
1898, he was invited by the directors of the natl
onal museum, to accompany captain Baudin in
voyage round the world NJ. Bonpland, of Ro.
cbelle, an excellent naturalist, and bred at the
museum, was named his associate in the expedi-
ton. But, unfortunately, the whole scheme was
abandoned, in consequence of the renewal ofhos-
tilties with Austria. :,
Disappointed in this plan, Humboldt resumed
the project which he had entertained for several
years back, of visiting, as philosopher, the
countries of the east In that view, he was anx-
ious to join the celebrated expedition which had
sailed to Egypt, whence he thought he could pro-
coed into Arabia, & crossing the Persian Gulph,
land on .h> English settlements on the shores Of
India. But the situation of France, after the
battle of the Nile, was becoming every day more
II Dos mn xraora dxvar
against her. and the navigation of the Mediter.
ranean was rendered extremely hazardous for a.
ny of her vessels. Humboldt waited two months
at Marselles, in the prospect of obtaining pas
sage on board Swedish frigate, which was ex-
pected to convey the consul Skioldebrand to Al
giers. His patience, however, was at length ex-
hausted and he proceeded to Spain, hoping to
find there safe and ready communication with
the coast of Barbary. At the same time, he car.
ried with him considerable collection of phio.
sophical and astronomical instruments, which he
had purchased in England and France.
But brighter prospect opened. Alter resi-
ding some months at Madrid, Humboldt was, in
the most liberal and aattering terms, permitted
by the court of Spain to visit her colo.ies in the
New World. He Immediately invited from Pa
sis, his friend Bonpland, whose profound skill in
botany and zoology was equalled only by his in
defatigable zeal and, without moments delay,
these eager travellers, IN June, 1879, embarked
q
ed at the Canary Isles, where they climbed up to
view the crater of the peake Teyde, they pursu-
ed their prosperous voyage, and arrived in the
month of July at the port of Cumans, in South
America
The rest of the year was spent in visiting the
coast of Paria, the Indian missions of Chaymas,
and the provinces of New Andalusis, New Bar
celona, Venezuela, and Spanish Guyana. Leav-
ing the Caracas in January, 1900, Humboldt &
BoSpiand visited the charming vallies of Aragua,
and the great lake of Valencia, or Tacarigua,
which, III its general appearance, resembles that
of Geneva, but has its banks clothed with all The
iuxuriant vegetation Of q tropical climate. In
Curs, one of its islets, he fouHd, cultivated, a
species of solanum, which yields wholesome &
pleasant fruit. From Porto Cabello, our travel
lers, directed their course sOuthwards crossed on
horseback the vast plains of Calaboza, Apure &
Orenocco. They next traversed the famous LA
nos, an immense succession of deserts, stretch.
ing near two hundred miles on dead level, alb
solutely destitute of springs or riyuets, and only
covered with tall rank heritage Over this de
ISOLATE and painless expansc, they journeyed for
whole days, without meeting single shrub, or a
solitary cabin to refresh tl:e eye while they suf
fsfed, besides, extremely from the intense conf
ned heat, which rose TO ITO or lis degrees Of
Fahrenbeits scale. Al ST. Fernando, on the ri.
yer Apure, they began most fatiguing navigate
on OF more than three thousand miles, which they
performed in canoes and took the chart of the
chronometers, and observations of Jupiter's sl-
tellites or lunar distances. Sailing down the A.
pure, tIey next entered the Orenocco, at the 9TH
degree of north latitude and rcmounting this
noble stream, they passed the catarscts of Ma
ruree and Aftlres and reaci,eI fhe copnuv of The