PREFACE 7 



the Atlantic, traversed the ridges and plains of Vene- 

 zuela, ascended the Orinoco to its junction with the 

 Amazon, sailed down the former river to the capital 

 of Guiana, and after examining the island of Cuba, 

 mounted by the valley of the Magdalena to the ele- 

 vated platforms of the Andes, explored the majestic 

 solitudes of the great Cordilleras of Quito, navigated 

 the margin of the Pacific Ocean, and wandered over 

 the extensive and interesting provinces of New- 

 Spain, whence he made his way back by the United 

 States to Europe. The publication of the important 

 results of this journey was not completed when he 

 undertook another to Asiatic Russia and the con- 

 fines of China, from which he has but lately re- 

 turned. 



From the various works which he has given to the 

 world have been derived the chief materials of this 

 narrative ; and, when additional particulars were 

 wanted, application was made to M. de Humboldt 

 himself, who kindly pointed out the sources whence 

 the desired information might be obtained. The 

 life of a man of letters, he justly observed, ought 

 to be sought for in his books ; and for this reason 

 little has been said respecting his occupations during 

 the intervals of repose which have succeeded his 

 perilous journeys. 



It is only necessary further to apprize the reader, 

 that the several measurements, the indications of the 

 thermometer, and the value of articles of industry 

 or commerce, which in the original volumes are ex- 

 pressed according to French, Spanish, and Russian 

 usage, have been reduced to English equivalents. 



