TEAVELS AND EESEAECHES 



OF 



BARON HUMBOLDT. 



CHAPTER I. 



Introduction. 



Birth and Education of Humboldt — His early Occupations — He 

 resolves to visit Africa— Is disappointed in his Vievrs, and goes 

 to Madrid, where he is introduced to tlie King-, and obtains per- 

 mission to visit the Spanish Colonies — Observations made on the 

 Journey through Spain — Geological Constitution of the Country 

 between Madrid and Corunna — Climate — Ancient Submersion of 

 the Shores of the Mediterranean — Reception at Corunna, and 

 Preparations for the Voyage to South America. 



With the name of Humboldt we associate all that is ciiAi' i 

 interesting in the physical sciences. No traveller who soiciuinc 

 has visited remote regions of the globe, for the purpose "ssociutiur 

 of observing the varied phenomena of nature, has added 

 so much to our stock of positive knowledge. While the 

 navigator has explored the coasts of unknown lands, dis- 

 covered islands and shores, marked the depths of the sea, 

 estimated the force of currents, and noted the more ob- 

 vious traits in the aspect of the countries at whix-di lie 

 has touched ; while the zoologist has investigated tlie 

 multiplied forms of animal life, the botanist the diversi- 

 fied vegetation, the geologist the structure and relations 

 of the rocky masses of which the exterior of the 

 earth is composed ; and while each has thus contributed 



