305 ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT. 



dangers by which the inhabitants of Quito are surrounded, 

 and the apprehensions to which they must frequently be ex- 

 posed, they are a gay, lively, and amiable people. The town 

 breathes only an atmosphere of luxury and voluptuousness, and 

 perhaps nowhere is there a population so entirely given up to 

 the pursuit of pleasure. Thus can man accustom himself to 

 sleep in peace on the brink of a precipice. 



'We remained in the province of Quito for nearly eight 

 months from the beginning of January till August and 

 spent the time in visiting the principal volcanoes. We exa- 

 mined in succession Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Antisana, and Ilinica, 

 devoting about a fortnight or three weeks to each, and return- 

 ing between whiles to the capital ; finally, on the 9th of June, 

 1802, we started for the ascent of Chimborazo.' 



The results of the observations made by Humboldt during 

 this sojourn upon the elevated table-land of Quito were early 

 given to the world in his great work, where they appear 

 according to their several classifications, whether botanical, 

 geological, meteorological, hypsometric, or astronomical : it was 

 not until a much later date that he published separate topo- 

 graphical descriptions or monographs of the ascents of some 

 of the volcanoes. He gives as a reason for this delay, that he 

 thought it necessary to wait until he could show ' the relative 

 worthlessness ' of his labours, by distinguishing between those 

 geological observations, which had been made on principles 

 since proved obsolete, and those of a character which could 

 not be affected by time. 



There is, in fact, little of purely scientific interest, and still 

 less of scientific value, to be gained by the arduous and 

 dangerous ascent of high mountains which rise far above the 

 line of perpetual snow, especially when it is impossible to 

 make a prolonged stay at the summit. The barometer, indeed, 

 affords a ready means for ascertaining the height of mountains, 

 but the results obtained are subject to error from the rise and 

 fall of atmospheric currents, and the irregular decrease of 

 temperature. The structure of the earth's surface is hidden 

 from the scrutiny of the geologist by the covering of perpetual 

 snow ; and organic life is wholly absent, except perhaps in the 

 soaring condor or the few insects carried up by currents of air. 



