Equinoctial Regions of America

By Von Humboldt, Alexander

Book Id: WPLBN0000613436
Format Type: PDF eBook
File Size: 1.5 MB
Reproduction Date:

Title:	Equinoctial Regions of America
Author:	Von Humboldt, Alexander
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Literature & thought, Literature and history, Literature & philosophy
Collections:	Project Gutenberg Consortia Center
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	Project Gutenberg Consortia Center


Citation APA MLA Chicago Von, 1769-185, H. A. (n.d.). Equinoctial Regions of America. Retrieved from https://self.gutenberg.org/

Excerpt
Prior to the travels of Humboldt and Bonpland, the countries described in the following narrative were but imperfectly known to Europeans. For our partial acquaintance with them we were chiefly indebted to the early navigators, and to some of the followers of the Spanish Conquistadores. The intrepid men whose courage and enterprise prompted them to explore unknown seas for the discovery of a New World, have left behind them narratives of their adventures, and descriptions of the strange lands and people they visited, which must ever be perused with curiosity and interest; and some of the followers of Pizarro and Cortez, as well as many learned Spaniards who proceeded to South America soon after the conquest, were the authors of historical and other works of high value. But these writings of a past age, however curious and interesting, are deficient in that spirit of scientific investigation which enhances the importance and utility of accounts of travels in distant regions. In more recent times, the researches of La Condamine tended in a most important degree to promote geographical knowledge; and he, as well as other eminent botanists who visited the coasts of South America, and even ascended the Andes, contributed by their discoveries and collections to augment the vegetable riches of the Old World. But, in their time, geology as a science had little or no existence. Of the structure of the giant mountains of our globe scarcely anything was understood; whilst nothing was known beneath the earth in the New World, except what related to her mines of gold and silver.

Table of Contents
CONTENTS. EDITOR'S PREFACE. INTRODUCTION BY THE AUTHOR. CHAPTER 1.1. PREPARATIONS.--INSTRUMENTS.--DEPARTURE FROM SPAIN.-- LANDING AT THE CANARY ISLANDS. CHAPTER 1.2. STAY AT TENERIFE.--JOURNEY FROM SANTA CRUZ TO OROTAVA.--EXCURSION TO THE SUMMIT OF THE PEAK OF TEYDE. CHAPTER 1.3. PASSAGE FROM TENERIFE TO SOUTH AMERICA.-- THE ISLAND OF TOBAGO.--ARRIVAL AT CUMANA. CHAPTER 1.4. FIRST ABODE AT CUMANA.--BANKS OF THE MANZANARES. CHAPTER 1.5. PENINSULA OF ARAYA.--SALT-MARSHES.-- RUINS OF THE CASTLE OF SANTIAGO. CHAPTER 1.6. MOUNTAINS OF NEW ANDALUCIA.--VALLEY OF THE CUMANACOA.-- SUMMIT OF THE COCOLLAR.--MISSIONS OF THE CHAYMA INDIANS. CHAPTER 1.7. CONVENT OF CARIPE.--CAVERN OF THE GUACHARO.--NOCTURNAL BIRDS.