84 > SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTS 



of earthquakes ; and which, still permeates its 

 veins in the interior of the earth, in order to 

 shake here and there violently the ground, or 

 discharge, by means of its ventilators, the 

 mouths of volcanoes, flames and burning lava. 

 This is what Baron Humboldt taught us. 



On his further voyage towards Central 

 America, Humboldt witnessed a beautiful and 

 sublime sight, in the night of the 4th to 5th 

 of July, under 16 latitude, the sparkling con- 

 stellation of the southern cross. At this first 

 sight of the phenomenon of a new world, he 

 saw, with deep emotion, the realization of the 

 dreams of his early childhood. What he felt at 

 this hour of his memorable life, he discloses in his 

 own words : " If we commence to cast our eyes 

 on geographical maps, and peruse the accounts 

 of travellers, we are inspired by a love for certain 

 countries and climes, for which, in riper years, 

 we can scarcely account. These impressions 

 influence, very materially, our decisions ; and 

 we endeavour almost instinctively to come in 

 close connection with those objects which had 

 for a long time a secret charm for us. When I 

 commenced to study astronomy, I experienced 

 a fear unknown to persons who lead a sedentary 

 life. It was painful to me to renounce the hope 

 of seeing the beautiful constellations near the 



