EXPEDITION TO THE ORINOCO. 



CHAPTER III. 

 EXPEDITION TO THE ORINOCO. 



Outline of the Expedition Letter to William von Humboldt Prosperity, 

 Leisure, and Objects of Study Bonpland's Ability and Faithfulness 

 Nocturnal Scene Letter to Willdenow Herbariums Arrangements 

 in case of Death Eraser's Shipwreck Profusion of Plants ; their 

 Preservation difficult Hardships ' The Tropics are my Element '- 

 Courteous Reception and Position of Independence Bonpland's Share 

 in the Work Recollections of Berlin. 



THE next subject of investigation which Humboldt had laid 

 down for himself was the task of tracing out the water system 

 of the Orinoco, in order to settle the vexed question as to the 

 existence of any communication between this river and the 

 Amazon. 



To give an outline of this important expedition, the travellers 

 started on foot from Puerto Cabello at the close of the month 

 of February, 1 800, and crossed New Valencia to the lake of the 

 same name, whence, after passing along its southern shore, they 

 turned southward through the Llanos de Caracas and by way of 

 Calabozo (from March 14 to March 24) to San Fernando de 

 Apure, which they reached about March 27. After a stay of 

 a couple of days they proceeded in an easterly direction down 

 the river Apure, in one of the slight native boats called pirogues, 

 so constructed as to be easily carried over land. They followed 

 the Apure till its junction with the Orinoco at Cabruta, whence 

 they ascended the Orinoco past the rapids of Atures and May- 

 pures as far as San Fernando, the confluence of the Atabapo, 

 where they arrived on April 23. At this point they left the 

 Orinoco and followed the course of its tributary, the Atabapo, 

 southward, as far as the junction of the small rivers Temi and 

 Tuamini, arriving on May 1 at the town of San Antonio de 



T 2 



