88 M. Boussingaulfs Account of 



once formed, of submitting it to chemical analysis. It, however, 

 appears to him that, from the foregoing statements, it may be 

 concluded that this dust was a combination of iron or nickel, 

 with some other substance not ascertained. 



The whole of the observations which have been made upon 

 the extraordinary storm which befel the town of Padua, clearly 

 demonstrates the insufficiency of all the physical theories hitherto 

 proposed for the explanation of this class of phenomena ; and it 

 is only by future observations that we can hope to dispel that 

 obscurity which still envelopes the whole of this class of subjects. 



Accowit of an Attempt to ascend Chimborazo, made on the \Gth 

 December 1831. I3y J. B. Boussingault. In a letter ad- 

 dressed to Alexander Von Humboldt. 



After ten years' uninterrupted labour, I realized the project 

 of my youth which led me to the New World. The height of 

 the barometer at the level of the sea between the tropics, was 

 ascertained in the harbour of Guayra, the geographical posi- 

 tions of the capitals of Venezuela and New Granada, were de- 

 termined, and numerous measurements had afforded us infor- 

 mation in regard to the heights of the Cordilleras. I had col- 

 Jected the most accurate information regarding the geological 

 positions of the gold and platinum of Antioquia and Choco, 

 I had established my laboratory successively on the various 

 craters of the equatorial regions, and had been so fortunate as 

 to carry my investigation of the decrease of temperature in the 

 Intertropical Andes, to the immense height of 5500 metres. 



I was at Rio-Bamba recruiting myself, after my first expedi- 

 tions to Cotopaxi and Tunguragua. I wished to give up my 

 investigations, and, as it were, satiate myself with the contem- 

 plation of those majestic glories which had so often inspired me 

 with a zeal for science, and to which I was now about to bid 

 an eternal farewell, 



Rio-Bamba is perhaps the most extraordinary diorama in 



the world. The town presents no objects of interest ; it is 



placed on one of those arid plateaus which are so common in 



the Andes, and all of which, on account of their gi-eat elevation, 



" Metre is equal to 3,28 feet Engl. 



