6 PHEFACE. 



and vivid delineations of national manners and indivi- 

 dual character, naturally excite a lively interest in 

 every bosom, whatever may be the age or sex ; but, 

 surely, the great focts of creative power and wisdom, as 

 exhibited in regions of the globe of which they have no 

 personal knowledge, are not less calculated to iix the 

 attention of all reflecting minds. The magnificent 

 vegetation of the tropical regions, displaying forests of 

 gigantic trees, interspersed with the varied foliage of in- 

 numerable shrubs, and adorned with festoons of climbing 

 and odoriferous plants ; the elevated table-lands of the 

 Andes, crowned by volcanic cones, whose summits shoot 

 high into the region of perennial snow ; the earthquakes 

 that have desolated populous and fertile countries ; the 

 vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, with its circling 

 currents ; and the varied aspect of the heavens in those 

 distant lands, — are subjects suited to the taste of every 

 individual who is capable of contemplatmg the wonder- 

 ful machinery of the universe. 



It is unnecessiiry here to present an analysis of the 

 labours of the illustrious philosopher whose footsteps are 

 traced in this volume. Suffice it to observe, that some 

 notices respecting his early life introduce the reader to 

 an acquaintance with his character and motives, as the 

 adventurous traveller, who, crossing the Atlantic, tra- 

 versed the ridges and plains of Venezuela, ascended the 

 Qrinoco to its junction with the Amazon, sailed down 

 the former river to the capital of Guiana, and after 

 examining the Island of Cuba mounted by the valley of 

 the Magdalen a to the elevated platforms of the Andes, 

 explored the majestic solitudes of the great Cordilleras 

 of Quito, navigated the margin of the Pacific Ocean, and 

 wandered over the extensive and interesting provinces 

 of New Spain, wjience he made his way back by tliQ 



