Page:Travels and Researches of Alexander von Humboldt.djvu/12

 6 PHEFACE.

and vivid delineations of national manners and indivi- dual character, naturally excite a lively interest in every bosom, whatever may be the age or sex ; but, surely, the great focts of creative power and wisdom, as exhibited in regions of the globe of which they have no personal knowledge, are not less calculated to iix the attention of all reflecting minds. The magnificent vegetation of the tropical regions, displaying forests of gigantic trees, interspersed with the varied foliage of in- numerable shrubs, and adorned with festoons of climbing and odoriferous plants ; the elevated table-lands of the Andes, crowned by volcanic cones, whose summits shoot high into the region of perennial snow ; the earthquakes that have desolated populous and fertile countries ; the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, with its circling currents ; and the varied aspect of the heavens in those distant lands, — are subjects suited to the taste of every individual who is capable of contemplatmg the wonder- ful machinery of the universe.

It is unnecessiiry here to present an analysis of the labours of the illustrious philosopher whose footsteps are traced in this volume. Suffice it to observe, that some notices respecting his early life introduce the reader to an acquaintance with his character and motives, as the adventurous traveller, who, crossing the Atlantic, tra- versed the ridges and plains of Venezuela, ascended the Qrinoco to its junction with the Amazon, sailed down the former river to the capital of Guiana, and after examining the Island of Cuba mounted by the valley of the Magdalen a to the elevated platforms of the Andes, explored the majestic solitudes of the great Cordilleras of Quito, navigated the margin of the Pacific Ocean, and wandered over the extensive and interesting provinces of New Spain, wjience he made his way back by tliQ