PERSONAL NARRATIVE 
OF A 
J 0 U E N E Y 
to ti:i: 
E Q U I N O C T I A L R PI G JONS 
OF 
THE NEW CONTINENT. 
CHAPTER I. 
Preparations. — Instruments. — Departure from Spain. — Landing at t!>< 
Canary Islands. 
1’ itOM it i y earliest youth I felt an ardent desne to travel 
into distant regions, seldom visited by Europeans. This 
tlcsu-o is characteristic of a period of our existence when 
.‘to appears au unlimited horizon, and when wo find an 
irresistible attraction in tho impetuous agitations of the 
jinnd, and the image of positive danger. Though educated 
tl a '; ou,ltl '.v which has no direct communicatiou with cither 
ic Last or the W est Indies, living amidst mountains remote 
om coasts, and celebrated for their numerous mines, I felt 
increasing passion for the sea and distant expeditions, 
jects with which we are acquainted only by the animated 
tarrafoves of travellers have a peculiar charm ; imagination 
'y 1 ,*’, 1 over that which is vague and unde- 
■i r 1 ’• a i- * 10 l ;lcasures are deprived of seem to possess 
a lascmatmg power, compared with which all we dad- feel 
VOL. T. 1 B * 
