20 



PROPOSES TO VISIT AFRICA. 



Pecuniary 

 It-sou rtcs. 



Proposed 

 visit to 



Egypt. 



CHAP. I. tunatc in possessing ample pecuniary resources, he did 

 not experience tlic privations ^vllich have disconcerted 

 the i)hins and retarded the progress of many eminent 

 individuals ; but, not the less subject to unforeseen 

 vicissitudes, he had to undergo several disappointments 

 that thwarted tiie schemes \vhicli, like all men of ardent 

 mind, he had indulged himself in forming. Meeting 

 with a person passionately fond of the fine arts, and 

 anxious to visit Ui)per Egypt, he resolved to accompany 

 liim to that interesting country ; but political events 

 interfered and forced him to ab^mdon the project. The 

 kno\vlcdii:e of the monuments of the more ancient na- 

 tions of the Old World, which he acquired at this period, 

 was subsequently of great use to him in his researches 

 in the New Continent. An expedition of discovery to 

 the southern hemisphere under the direction of Captain 

 Baudiii, then preparing in France, and with which MM. 

 Michaux and Bonpland were to be associated as na- 

 turalists, held out to him the hope of gratifying his 

 desire of exploring unknown regions. But the war 

 Interference wliicli broke out in Germany and Italy compelled the 

 government to withdraw the funds allotted to this 

 cnterpi'ise. Becoming acquainted with a Swedish con- 

 sul who happened to pass through Paris with the view 

 of embarking at Marsiillcs on a mission to Algiers, he 

 resolved to embrace the opportunity thus offered of 

 visiting Africa, in order to examine the lofty chain of 

 mountains in the empire of f.Iorocco, and ultimately to 

 join the body of scientific men attached to the French 

 army in Kgypt. Accompanied by his friend Bonpland, 

 lie tiicrefore betook himself to Marseilles, where he 

 waited for two months the arrival of the frigate which 

 was to convey the consul to his destination. At length, 

 learning that this vessel had been injured by a storm, 

 lie resolved to p;us» the v.'inter in Spain, in hopes of 

 findiuL' another tiie following spring. 



On his way to Madrid, be deti rmined the geographical 

 position of several important parts, and ascertained the 

 height of the central plain of Ciistile. In March 1799 



ith liii 

 olaiis. 



V'iidl to 

 Maurid. 



