112 SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTS 



crossed the high chains of the Andes, returned 

 to Peru, ascertained the position of the mag- 

 netic equator, visited the rich silver-mines of 

 Hualguayok, where silver is found 2,000 feet 

 above the level of the sea ; they examined the 

 hot springs of Caxamarca, and the ruins of the 

 ancient city of Mansiche, with its old pyramids, 

 in one of which was accidentally discovered, in 

 the early part of the 18th century, pure gold 

 of the value of more than four million francs. 

 Humboldt and his friend Bonpland crossed the 

 western Cordillera of the Andes, and arrived at 

 Truxillo, where they for the first time enjoyed 

 the sight of the Pacific, surveying at the same 

 time the long and narrow valley, noted on account 

 of the entire absence of either rain or thunder. 

 He explored the arid regions of the south coast 

 of the Pacific, and arrived at Lima, the capital of 

 Peru. Here he sojourned for several months, 

 and instituted important climatic and astro- 

 nomical investigations. Baron Humboldt ex- 

 amined a remarkably cold river on the coast 

 of Peru ; and in after-years, science, in recog- 

 nition of the important services of the great 

 naturalist, called the waters " Humboldts- 

 Stromung." 



The travellers reached, by way of Cuernaraca, 

 and through the fogs of Guchilaque, the beauti- 



