343 QUALIFICATIONS FOR TRAVEL. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 



Journey in Central Asia, 



Qualifications as a Traveller — Great Designs — Invitation by the 

 Emperor of Russia — Uralian fountains — Ores — Volcanic 

 Phenomena — Geological Observations — The Chinese Frontier 

 — Relations of Plains and Mountain Systems — Depth of the 

 Sea — Climatology — Ethnology — Altaic Mountain Range — Thian 

 Clian — Himalaya System — Lunar Plienomena — Isothermal 

 Zones — Magnetic Currents — Conclusion. 



CHAPTER The previous narrative has sufficed to show how indo- 



mitable is the energy and perseverance, and how re- 



Quaiifica- markable are the quahfications which Humboldt possesses 

 Humboldt, as a scientific traveller. With all the love of travel 

 which frequently springs only from the same adventur- 

 ous spirit that can find its reward in the chase, or the 

 sports of the field, he possesses the intelligent and 

 patient perseverance which can master every detail re- 

 quisite for the purposes of science. Still more, he has 

 ever been bent on carrying out scientific induction to its 

 legitimate conclusions, and establishing general laws. In 

 Value of bis this respect his services have been of immense value to 

 scrvicea. science, and it was from a desire of securing the moet 

 ample scope for the necessary comparison of i)]ienomena, 

 and accumulation of facts, that, so soon as he had com- 

 pleted his observations on the continent of America, he 

 sought to make the same minute investigation of the 

 parallel scenes of Northern and Central Asia. 

 Compnrbon A distinguished critic and historian, Dr. Archibald 

 cniveUeia.^ Alison, has recently remarked, when contrasting the 

 general inferiority of British travellers, with the remark- 

 able men producul by various continental nations, and 



