THEY SET SAIL FOK MEXICn. 263 



visited the ruins of tlie ancient city of Chimii, and de- 

 scended into the tomb of a Peruvian prince, in which 

 Garci Gutierez de Toledo, while digging a gallery, in 

 1576, discovered a mass of gold amounting in value to 

 more than a million of dollars. They remained some 

 time at Lima and Callao, Bonpland botanizing, and 

 Humboldt studvino^ the influence of the climate, and 

 making astronomical observations. They were fortu 

 nate enough while at Lima to observe the transit of ^fer- 

 cury over the sun's disk, which enabled Humboldt to 

 determine the exact latitude of the city. 



Towards the end of December, 1802, or at the begin- 

 ning of January, 1803, they departed for Mexico, sailing 

 for Acapulco in the Spanish frigate, Atalanta. They 

 touched at Guayaquil on their way, and remained there 

 several days. Here they heard from their inaccessible 

 old friend, Cotopaxi, although they were at least one 

 hundred and fifty miles from him. After a long period 

 of rest the volcano had suddenly burst into violent erup- 

 tion, and was discharging its terrible artillery. They 

 heard it day and night. After a few hasty preparations 

 they started inland, fired with the determination to re- 

 visit the volcano: but before they had gone far they 

 were recalled by the news, that the frigate was obliged 

 to set sail immediately. They were soon at sea again, 

 standing away to the north and west for Acapulco. 

 They landed in Mexico on the 23d of March, 1803. 



