Scicntijtc IntcJUgencc. — SfalisUcs. 1 83 



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El Dorado. From the 14ih to the ITih degree of latitudej tliL chain 

 rises almost uninterruptedly above the region of perpetual snow. 

 Several of its peaks surpass twenty thousand English feet, and some 

 of them are the most elevated of all the points of the Cordilleras 

 which have been measured, towering above the gigantic summits of 

 Columbia, Chimborazo, Antisana and Cayambe. 



A remarkable geognostic fact, noticed by M. Pentland, is, that in 

 no part, of the volcanic region of the Andesian chain which he tra- 

 versed, either in Peru or Chili, did he find any traces of basalt or 

 pyroxene. Trachytic agglomerations, and trachytes mingled widi 

 grains of quartz, are the forms under which are presented the most 

 common masses of volcanic origin. Trachytic pechsteius, obsidians, 

 and other vitrified volcanic products, are very rare. 



The ancient inhabitants were exceedingly prone to ascend the 

 highest elevations, in pursuit of their mining operations, a long time 

 before the conquest of the Spaniards. Many of tliese artificial ex- 

 cavations are found at die height of sixteen thousand and six hundred 

 * English feet. The whole rid2;e of Potosi has an elevation of sixteen 



thousand and eighty feet, and yet this mountain is riddled to its sum- 

 niit with pits and galleries. 

 •The highest habitations of man, between the 14di and 18th degrees 

 f south latitude, are above fifteen thousand and five hundred feet. 



Small villages and post houses are found as high as fourteen thou- 

 sand and four hundred feet. 



The following table contains the principal measures, obtained by 

 M. Pendand, of the highest elevations of the Andes. The first two, 

 ^nd probably the third, were ascertained mgonometrically, and die 



odiers by means of the barometer. 



t Names of places, in Peru and Bolivia. ^"il; eS ISt''' ^^^^^^ ^^^^"^^ 



. Sorata,* (eastern chain,) - 25,200 



30^ 



I Potosi, 



Illimani, do. - - - 24,200 16 SS 



Ridge oCCherquibana, (western chain,) 22,000 



Arequipa, (volcano,) - - 17,760 16 19 



16,080 19 36 25" 



> Ancomarca, (post house,) - 14,410 17 31 50 



Bi 



1 



* Chimborazo is twenty one thousand five hundred and twenty seven feet; Mont 



fifty four. The two highest summits of 



— "»*^ unceu inousana eignt nunarea ana luty luut. *"^ »•"" ^.^..v.^^ ^ 



the Himaiaya are twenty "eight thousand two hundred and one, and twenty five thou- 

 sand eight hundred and sixty three feet.— (Note by Humboldt.) 



