BARON VON HUMBOLDT. 23 



Quito they travelled by a devious course to Trux- 

 illo, and then along the arid coast of the South Sea 

 to Lima, where they remained several months, and 

 at its port of Callao had the satisfaction of observ- 

 ing the transit of Mercury. Turning northwards, 

 they sailed along the coast to Guyaquil, and from 

 thence stretched across the ocean to the port of 

 Acapulco in Mexico or New Spain. That interest- 

 ing country they traversed in various directions, 

 studying its natural productions, examining its 

 mines and volcanoes, and making numerous scien- 

 tific observations and experiments. In Mexico, the 

 capital, they passed some months in the agreeable 

 occupation of inspecting its many antiquities and 

 curiosities, and in enjoying the society of its en- 

 lightened inhabitants. Leaving the capital, they 

 descended to the port of Vera Cruz, on the Mexican 

 Gulf, at which they embarked for Havannah, in 

 the island of Cuba, where they had left part of their 

 specimens. They remained there two months, after 

 which they set sail for the United States of North 

 America. Arriving at Philadelphia, and afterwards 

 visiting Washington, they spent two months in that 

 important country, for the purpose of studying its 

 political constitution and commercial relations. In 

 August 1804 they returned to Europe, carrying 

 with them the extensive collections they had made, 

 among which there were 6300 species of plants. 



Reckoning from the time when the travellers 

 quitted France, their expedition occupied a period 

 of about six years, in the course of which they en- 



