by Alexander von Humboldt. xliii 



the highest mountain in the New World, a new measurement 

 is eminently desirable. Neither Dhawalagiri, with his 4930 

 toises, nor Kintsinjunga, measured by Colonel Waugh, with 

 his 4406 toises, are any longer considered the highest moun- 

 tains in the Himalaya range, but the Deodunga (Mount 

 Everest), which is 29,003 English feet, equal to 27,212 Paris 

 feet, or 4535 toises. 



B. The volcano Maipu (34° 17' S., height 16,572 feet), 

 ascended by Meyen. The trachytic rock on the summit has 

 broken through the Jurassic strata, in which Leopold von 

 Buch has ascertained, from heights of 9000 feet, the exist- 

 ence of Exogira contoni, Trigonia costata, and Ammonites 

 biplex. This volcano has no streams of lava, but only erup- 

 tions of volcanic slags. It would be most desirable that Dr. 

 Hochstetter should examine this remarkable protrusion 

 of dislocated strata. 



C. The volcano Antuco (37° 7' S.), the geology of which 

 was described by Poppig, is a lofty basaltic crater, having a 

 trachytic cone rising up in its centre to an elevation of 8672 

 feet. It was observed in full activity by Domeyko in 1845. 

 Gilliss gives an account of an eruption in 1853. According 

 to Domeyko, a fresh-burning cone was thrown up on the 

 25th of November, 1847, which remained in activity for a 

 whole year. Molina considers the Nevada Descabezado (35° 1' 

 S.), ascended by Domeyko, to be the highest mountain in 

 Chili ; but its height is estimated by Gilliss at only 12,300 feet. 

 The most southerly volcanoes are the still active Corcovado 



