16 



INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 



relations of the rocky masses of which the exterior 

 of the earth is composed ; and while each has thus 

 contributed to the illustration of the wonderful con- 

 stitution of our planet, the distinguished traveller 

 whose discoveries form the subject of this volume 

 stands alone as uniting in himself a knowledge of all 

 these sciences. Geography, meteorology, magnet- 

 ism, the distribution of heat, the various depart- 

 ments of natural history, together with the affinities 

 of races and languages, the history of nations, the 

 political constitution of countries, statistics, com- 

 merce, and agriculture, — all have received accumu- 

 lated and valuable additions from the exercise of his 

 rare talents. The narrative of no traveller, there- 

 fore, could be more interesting to the man of varied 

 information. But as from a work like that of which 

 the present volume constitutes a part subjects strictly 

 scientific must be excluded, unless when they can 

 be treated in a manner intelligible to the public at 

 large, it may here be stated, that many of the inves- 

 tigations of which we present the results must be 

 traced in the voluminous works which the author 

 himself has published. At the same time enough 

 will be given to gratify the scientific reader ; and 

 while the narrative of personal adventure, the diver- 

 sified phenomena of the physical world, the condi- 

 tion of societies, and the numerous other subjects 

 discussed, will afford amusement and instruction, let 

 it be remembered that truths faithfully extracted 

 from the book of nature are alone calculated to en- 

 large the sphere of mental vision ; and that, while 

 fanciful description is more apt to mislead than to 

 direct the footsteps of the student, there is reflected 

 from the actual examination of the material universe 

 a light which never fails to conduct the mind at once 

 to sure knowledge and to pious sentiment. 



Frederick Henry Alexander Von Humboldt was 

 born at Berlin, on the 14th of September, 1769. He 

 received his academic education at Gottingen and 



