334 EXTRACT FROM PREFACE. 



rienccd in my travels, enjoyments which have aui])]}; 

 compensated for the privations inseparable from a labo- 

 rious and often agitated life. These enjoyments, which I 

 endeavoured to impart to my readers in my ' Kemarks 

 upon the StejDpes,' and in the 'Essay on the Phj^siog- 

 nomy of Plants,' were not the only fruits I reaped from 

 an undertaking formed with the design of contributing 

 to the progress of natural philosophy. I had long pre- 

 pared myself for the observations which were the princi- 

 pal object of my journey to the torrid zone. I was pro- 

 vided with instruments of easy and convenient use, con- 

 structed by the ablest makers, and I enjoyed the special 

 protection of a government which, far from presenting 

 obstacles to my investigations, constantly honoured me 

 with every mark of regard and confidence. I was aided 

 by a courageous and enlightened friend, and it was sin- 

 gularly propitious to the success of our participated 

 labour, that the zeal and equanimity of that friend nevei 

 failed, amidst the fatigues and dangers to which we were 

 sometimes exposed. 



" Under these favourable circumstances, traversing re- 

 gions which for ages have remained almost unknown to 

 most of the nations of Europe, I might add even to Spain, 

 M. Bonpland and myself collected a considerable num- 

 ber of materials, the publication of which may throw 

 some light on the history of nations, and advance the 

 study of nature. 



" I had in view a two-fold purpose in the travels ot 

 which I now publish the historical narrative. I wished 

 to make known the countries I had visited ; and to col- 

 lect such facts as are fitted to elucidate a science of which 

 we as yet possess scarcely the outline, and which has 



