304 



PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



CHAPTER 

 XXVI 1 1. 



Importaiit 



collatera; 



points. 



Indications 

 of mountain 

 chains. 



Interest 

 of physical 

 geof;rapliy. 



very generally abandoned ; and the careful investiga- 

 tions, both of zoologists and geologists, leaves little room 

 to doubt that the gigantic mammoth was a native of 

 the frozen north, along with the rein-deer and other 

 inhabitants of the arctic regions. 



Numerous important collateral points, relating to the 

 upheaval of land, volcanic action, marine influences, 

 gaseous and boiling springs, mud volcanoes, and other 

 remarkable natural phenomena, are brought under re- 

 view by the great traveller, in the course of his valuable 

 labours. The subject is not one calculated for popular 

 readers, nor is it treated as such. Nevertheless, like all 

 researches into the mysterious laws of the universe, it 

 abounds in disclosures which cannot fail to attract the 

 inquiring mind. The great mountain chains which have 

 heretofore been regarded chiefly a.s the boundaries of 

 kingdoms, or the natural demarcations of continents, are 

 reviewed by Humboldt as the indices of those great 

 changes by which the earth has been adapted for its 

 present purposes, and made meet for the habitation of 

 man. It is thus that the grasp of a profound intellect 

 traces back the operations of nature to their source, and 

 reveals to us the method by which the Creator works 

 out his plans. By such means the study of physical 

 geography has acquired an interest equal to that which 

 the wondrous revelations of the astronomer, and the 

 profound speculations of the geologist, had already 

 thrown over these kindred sciences ; and now that we 

 are learning to apply the remarkable phenomena dis- 

 cernible in the moon's illuminated phase, to instruct 

 us in deciphering the mysterious records of our own 

 planet, we may anticipate fresh insight into the causes 

 of the physical characteristics ])y which our earth is 

 heaved up into such vast mountain chains, and spread 

 out between into green valleys or vast plains, adapted 

 for every stage of being, and wonderfully suited to 

 supply the wants, and minister to the necessities of 

 man. 



