274 ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLBT. 



fifty miles, Nature reigns with undisputed sway. Neither 

 the tigers, nor the crocodiles, nor even the monkeys, show any 

 fear of man ; the most valuable trees, such as the guaiacam, 

 the caoutchouc, and the logwoods of Brazil and Campechy, 

 besides a vast number of other varieties, grow down even to 

 the coast, and by the interlacement of their branches often 

 present an impenetrable barrier. The air is peopled by rare 

 birds of brilliant plumage. Every object declares the grandeur, 

 the power, the tenderness of Nature from the boa con- 

 strictor, which can swallow a horse, down to the tiny hum- 

 ming-bird balancing itself on the chalice of a flower. . . . We 

 are already sufficiently familiar with Spanish to take part in a 

 conversation, and my admiration has been excited by the 

 loyalty and probity (liombria de bien) evinced by the in- 

 habitants of these distant countries qualities for which the 

 Spanish nation has in all ages been distinguished. It is true 

 that as a people they have not kept pace with the development 

 of enlightened views, but on the other hand the purity of 

 their moral character has been perhaps more perfectly main- 

 tained. A hundred miles from the coast, among the mountains 

 of Gruanaguana, the inhabitants were in such a state of 

 ignorance that they had never even heard of Prussia ; yet I 

 should find it difficult to convey to you an adequate notion of 

 the very cordial hospitality we received from them. After 

 only spending four days in their society, they took leave of 

 us as if we had been living with them for a lifetime. The 

 longer I am here, the more am I delighted with the Spanish 

 colonies ; and if I have the good fortune to live to return to 

 Europe I shall always recall with pleasure and interest the 

 days I have spent here.' . . . 



After a short stay at Puerto Cabello, the travellers took 

 their departure towards the beginning of March, to pursue 

 their important expedition to the Orinoco and the investigation 

 of the interior of the continent. 



