Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1859-07-09
HONOLULU, JULY 9, 1859.
Gle Dolpnesian.
Death of Baron Humboldt.


The news of the death of Baron Humboldt in
Berlin, on the 9th of May is confirmed Ii was
an event not unexpected, since he had arrived at a
great age, and recent reports from Berlin had men
toned his gradual decline.
humboldt, Frederick Henry Alexander, Baron.
the great German naturalist, was born in Berlin
Sept. ii, 1863. He was educated with n view 10
employment in the direction of the government
mines successfully at Gutenberg Frankfort on the
Oder, at Hamburg, and at the mining school at
Frieberg. In 1892 he was appointed assessor of
the mining board, post which he shortly ex-
changed for that of director of the works of
Ralreuth. Among his early instructors were Blu
menbach, BeckmaEn, and Lechtenberg In 1890
he made tour through Belgium, Holland, Eng
land and France. The acquaintance of Sir .Josenb
Banks, and the enthusiasm Of one of his compan-
ions, who had made voyage to the South Sea,
awakened the desire for visiting tropical regions
and gave coloring to his future life
In 1875 he began to connect himself with Dhysi-
cal investigation and explorations He made a
journey with Halter to North Italy to study the
volcanic theory of rocks in the mountains of that
district, and In 1877 started for Naples with sim
liar purpose with Bach. Turning his steps to
Paris he met with a friendly reception from the
sardns of that capital, and made the acquaintance
Of Bonpland, just appointed naturalist to Baudin's
expedition. He passed the winter of 1898 with
Bonpland in Madrid.
In June, 1893, he embarked, in company with
BOnpland for South America. They landed first
in Tenerife They ascended the peak, and in the
course of few days of their stay collected num-
Der of new observations in the natural history of
the island. They then crossed the ocean without
accident, and landed American ground, near
Cumana on the 10th Of July. They employed IS
months in examining the territory which now forms
the free State of Venezuela, reached Caracas in
Feb, 1870, and left the seacOast anew near Porto
CabellO in order to reach the OrnOco by crossing
the grassy steppes OF CalObozO. They embarked
on the Orinoco in canoes, and proceeded TO the ex-
treme Spanish post, Fort San Carlos, on the Rio
Negro, two degrees from the equator, and returned
to Cumana, after having travelled thousands Of
miles through uninhabited wilderness. They
left the continent for Havana and STAYED there for
some months, until, receiving a false report that
Baudln was awaiting them, according to appoint
ment, on the coast of South America, they sailed
from Cuba in March, 1901, for Carthagena, in or
der to proceed thence to Panama.
The season being unfaTorable to a farther advance
they settled for time in Bog Ia, but in Septem-
Der, 1901 set out for the nth, despite of the
rains crossed the Cordillera di Quindini, followed
the valley of Cauca, aud by the greatest exertions
reached Quito, January 6, 1902. Eight months
were spent in exploring the valley Of Quito and
the volcanic mountains which enclose it. Favored
by circumstances, they ascended several of these
23d of June, 1902, they climbed ChimbOraZo, and
reached a height of l9 800 feet-a point of the
earth higher than any which had hitherto been as
| eended Humboldt next travelled over Loxa, Jean
| de BracOmoros, Caxamarca, and the high chain Of
the Andes, and reached Truxillo, the shore of
the Pacific Passing thence through the desert of
| the Lower Peru he came to Lima.
In January, 1903, he sailed for Mexico, visited
its chief cities collected facts, and departed for
Valladolid, traversed the province of Mecharacan,
and reaching the Pacific coast near JorullO, return
| ed to Mexico. Here he stayed some months, gain
ing large accessiOns to his stores of knowledge by
intercourse with the observant portion of the edu-
Gated classes of that country. In January, 1904
he embarked for Havana, from Vera Cruz; remain
ed there a short time, paid visit of two months
| to Philadel phia, and finally returned to Europe,
landing at Havre in August. 1904, richer in col
lections of objects, but especially in observations
on the great field Of the natural scences-in bota-
ny, zoology, geology, geography, statistics, and
ethnography, than any preceding traveller. Paris
at that time offering greater assemblance of sci
entifc aids than any capital of the continent, he
took up his residence there in order to prepare the
/ result Of his researches for the public eye.
| He shortly commenced a series of gigantic pub
! lieations in almost every department Ofscience /;
and in 1917 after twelve years CT incessant toll,
four-ths had been printed in parts, each of which
cost in the market more than $500. Since that
time the publication has gone more slowly, and
is still incomplete Having visited Italy in 1918,
with Gay-Lussac, and afterwards travelled in Eng
land in 1896 he returned took up his residence at
Berlin, and enjoying the personal favor and most
intimate society of the sovereign, was made
Councillor of State, and entrusted with more than
one diplomatic mission. In 1929, at the particu-
lar desire of the Car, he visited Siberia and the
Caspian Sea, in company with Gustav Rose and
Ehrenberg. The travellers accomplished distance
of 2,l42 geographical miles, journeying the
Woga from NoyogorOd to Casan, and by land to
Catharneberg, Tobolsk, Bal naul Schlangenberg
and Zyranski on the northwest slope of the Altai,
by Bucktarminsk to the Chinese frontier. On
their return they took the route by Ust-KamOno-
gorst, 0rusk, the Southern Ural, Orelberg, Sarep-
ta Astrachan, Moscow and Petersberg.
The political movements of 1880 gave the activ-
ity of Humboldt political direction to q certain
extent but without diverting his attention from the
pursuits of science. In May he attended the
Crown Prince of Prussia TO the last Diet of War
saw, and soon after was with the King at Teplitz
and on the accession of Louis Philippe, com
missioned by Frederic William Ill to acknowledge
the new dynasty at Paris and to forward political
intelligence from that capital to Berlin.
Since lS42 Humboldt has resided at Berlin, en-
gagged in the preparation of Cosmos" which sums
up the observations of long life on what may be
termed the - Harmonies of the Universe" receiv-
ing visits from strangers of every nation, who were
attracted by his scientific fame, carrying on an ex-
tensiye correspondence with of learning IN va
rous departments of research, and cherlshlng the
curiosity of youth with regard to every new
discovery and phenomenon in the realms of ma
ture.