318 ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT. 



muck respected family of Aguirre y Montufar, from whom 

 Humboldt had received great hospitality in 1802. They had 

 both a lively recollection of that time, and could distinctly 

 recall the distinguished man of science, then comparatively 

 young, of whose sojourn in Quito they gave me many interest- 

 ing particulars. Senora Rosa Montufar in 1802 a noted 

 beauty of Quito, but much changed when I saw her in 1859, a 

 sister of Carlos Montufar, who accompanied Humboldt in his 

 ascent of Chimborazo related to me, among other things, the 

 following interesting details, which I inscribed in my journal : 

 " The baron was always amiable and polite. At table he never 

 remained longer than was necessary to satisfy the claims of 

 hunger and pay courteous attention to the ladies. He seemed 

 always glad to be out of doors again, examining every stone 

 and collecting plants. At night, long after we were all asleep, 

 he would be gazing at the stars. To us young ladies, this mode 

 of life was even more incomprehensible than to my father the 

 marquis." 



6 The house occupied by Humboldt and Bonpland in Quito, 

 near the grand square, was only slightly injured by the earth- 

 quake of the 22nd of March, 1859, which laid so many build- 

 ings in ruins. The family of Aguirre have still in their pos- 

 session a half-length portrait, life-size, of their distinguished 

 guest, painted by a native . artist, which is preserved in their 

 country house of Chillo, half a day's journey from Quito, 

 whence Humboldt used to make excursions in the pursuit of 

 geology and botany. The young German baron, at that time 

 (in 1802) thirty-three years of age, is represented in a court 

 uniform of dark blue with yellow facings, a white waistcoat, 

 and white breeches of the fashion of the last century. His 

 right hand rests upon a book, entitled " Aphorism, ex Phys. 

 Chim. Plant." His thoughtful brow is covered by long dark 

 brown hair. The features in the youthful face are strongly 

 marked, especially the nose, mouth, and chin. The peculiar 

 expression of the eyes is the point of resemblance most readily 

 traceable in this picture to Humboldt as I saw him fifty years 

 later, then a venerable old man. The artist has evidently 

 given a faithful representation of the features of Humboldt's 

 countenance. But of the genius of that master mind, 



