GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE CONTENTS. 



Preface to the First Edition p. v. to p. vi. 

 Preface to the Second and Third Editions p. vii. to p. ix. 



Note by the Translator p. xi. 

 Steppes and Deserts p. 25 to p. 42. 



Coast chain and mountain valleys of Caraccas. Lake of Tacarigua. 

 Contrast in respect to the luxuriance of vegetation between those 

 districts and the treeless plains. The steppe regarded as the bottom 

 of a Mediterranean Sea; broken strata a little higher than the rest 

 of the plain called "banks." General phenomena of extensive 

 plains ; the Heaths of Europe, the Pampas and the Llanos of South 

 America, the African Deserts, and the Steppes of Northern Asia. 

 Different characters of the vegetable covering of the surface. Ani- 

 mal life. Pastoral nations, and their invasive migrations 25 28 



Description of the South American plains and prairies -their extent 

 and climate ; the latter dependent on the outline of the coasts, and 

 on the hypsometric conformation of the New Continent. Compari- 

 son with the plains and deserts of Africa . . . 29 33 



Original absence of pastoral life in America. Food furnished by the 

 Mauritia palm ; the Guaranis' huts raised on trees . 33 36 



Since the discovery of America, the Llanos have become more habit- 

 able. Extraordinary increase in the number of wild cattle, horses, 

 asses, and mules. Description of the season of extreme dryness, 

 and of the rainy season. Appearance of the surface of the ground 

 and of the sky. Life of the animals their sufferings, their con- 

 flicts ; power of adaptation with which certain aninials and plants 

 are endowed. Jaguars, crocodiles, and electric fishes. Unequal 

 conflict between Gymnoti and horses .... 36 40 



Retrospective glance at the countries surrounding the Steppes and 

 Deserts. Forest wildernesses of the Orinoco and the Amazons. 

 Indian tribes separated by the wonderful diversity of their lan- 

 guages and differences of their habits ; their hardships, and fre- 



