{ 291 ) 



On Two Attempts to ascend Chimborazo. By Alexander von 

 Humboldt. Translated from tlie German, and communi- 

 cated, at the request of the Author, hy Dr Martin Babky. 



The highest mountain-summits of both continents, — in the 

 old continent, Dhawalagiri (White Mountain) and the Jawahir ; 

 in the new, the Sorata and the Illimani, — remain unreached by 

 man. The highest point of the earth's surface attained, lies in 

 South America on the south-east side of Chimborazo. There 

 travellers have reached the height of nearly 18,500 Paris feet* 

 —viz. in June 1802, 3016 toises,-|- in December 1831, 3080 

 toises, above the level of the sea. Barometrical measurements 

 have thus been made, in the chain of the Andes 3720 (Paris) 

 feet above the level of the summit of Mont Blanc. The height 

 of Mont Blanc is in relation to that of the Cordilleras so incon- 

 siderable, that in the latter, there are much frequented passes 

 that are higher ; indeed, the upper part of the great city of 

 Potosi has an elevation only 323 toises inferior to that of the 

 summit of Mont Blanc. I have thought it needful to premise 

 these numerical statements, in order to present to the imagina- 

 tion definite points of comparison for the hypsometric, as it were 

 plastic, contemplation of the surface of the earth. 



The attainment of great heights is of less scientific interest, 

 when the same lie far above the snow-line, and can be visited 

 for a few hours only. Immediate barometrical measurements 

 of heights afford indeed this advantage, that the results are 

 quickly obtained, yet the summits are, for the most part, sur- 

 rounded by high plains, adapted for trigonometrical operations, 

 by which all the elements of the measurements can be repeat- 

 edly proved ; whilst a single determination by means of the 

 barometer, is liable to considerable errors, because of the as- 

 cending and descending currents of air on the mountain slopes, 

 and the variation in the decrease of temperature thus occasion- 

 ed. The nature of the rocks, from the permanent covering 



• One French foot is ea 1.07892, or about Ij'j English Tr. 



t A toiie is s> 1.9'1904 metres, or 0.39459 English feet Tr. 



VOL. XXIII. NO. XI.VI. — OCTOBEU 1837. U 



