OF BARON HUMBOLDT. 139 



weighing more than eight kilogrammes. After 

 he had determined the astronomical position of 

 several localities, made magnetic observations, 

 and ascertained various heights, he continued his 

 journey from Ekatharinburg by way of Ijumen 

 to Tobolsk, on the Irtisch ; and further by way 

 of Tara, through the horrible Borabinskian 

 desert. This wilderness, noted on account of 

 its numerous insects belonging to the family 

 of the Tipulse a region notorious throughout 

 the land, and especially dreaded by those who 

 dwell near it, Humboldt traversed with the 

 same self-sacrifice and perseverance in the 

 service of science, which we already admired in 

 his heroic exploration of the Orinoco. 



On August 2nd, Humboldt reached Barnaul, 

 on the shores of the Obi ; from thence he visited 

 the picturesque sea of Kolywan, and the rich 

 silver-mines of Biddersk and Zyrianowskoi, on 

 the south-western slope of the Altai, whose 

 highest peak Bjelmha is equal in height with 

 Etna. 



From Biddersk he took a southern direction, 

 towards the small fortress of Ust-Kamenoigorsk ;. 

 and arrived by way of Buchtorminsk on the 

 frontiers of the Chinese Dsungarey. Here he 

 obtained permission to pass the frontiers, which 

 enabled him to visit the Mongol station of Bati, 



