OF BARON HUMBOLDT. 101 



the connection of the Orinoco, the Rio Negro, 

 and the Amazon. On the 6th of March he left, 

 with his companion, the valleys of Araguay, in 

 order to continue his journey through the desert, 

 whose peculiar character, in contrast to the 

 African desert, engaged his particular notice. 

 Baron Humboldt traversed the pastures in 

 these immense plains, covered by gigantic 

 grasses, and here he noticed the breeding of 

 horses and other cattle, which furnish an article 

 of export for the harbours of the north coast. 

 By way of Calaboza he continued his travels in 

 the midst of the desert, the Llanos of Caracas, 

 where he encountered a new and interesting 

 object of observation the electric fishes gym- 

 notes. He traversed this wilderness for two 

 days without any indication of a road, and 

 where the eye does not even meet a single 

 object five inches high. Much to his surprise, 

 he discovered a small society of Capuchins. On 

 April 20, 1800, Baron Humboldt arrived with 

 his attendants at San Fernando de Apure. 

 He remained three days in that place, in order 

 to examine the district so frequently visited by 

 inundations reminding us of the lower parts 

 of Egypt where the Orinoco and the Amazon, 

 in consequence of a peculiar water system, find 

 their natural connection. He sailed down the 



