Voyage de Humboldt et Bonpland. Personal narrative of travels to the equinoctial regions of the New Continent during the years 1799-1824 ... Translated into English by Helen Maria Williams

Preface

. AFTER having so long withdrawn myself from the public eye, it is only under the auspices of the following work, that I should have ventured to appear once more in its presence. The narratives of travellers, and, above all, the de scription of those remote countries of the globe, which have immortalized the name of Cook, have always had a particular attraction for my mind ; and led me in my early youth, to \\ eave an humble chaplet for the brow of lhat great navigator, which my venerable friend, Doctor Kippis, inserted in the history of his life. The narrative of Cook's glorious career derives a peculiar charm from presenting to us new systems of social organization ; but it must be admitted, that in general sea-expeditions have a certain monotony, which arises from the necessity of continually speak ing of navigation in technical language.

The mariner also, while he braves the element on which he steers his perilous course, is chiefiy occupied by its dangers. The outlines and the bearings of coasts are the lead ing objects of his researches ; he visits only the shores of the countries where he disembarks, and holds but slight communications with the natives by whom they are peopled. The history of journies by land in distant regions is far more calculated to excite general interest ; not only by extending the limits of science, but by prc-

PREFACE.

. setting new aspects of the variegated scenery of the Globe. Happy the traveller, with whom the study of Nature has not been merely the cold research of the understanding, in the explanation of her properties, or the solution of her problems ! who, while_ he has interpreted her laws, has adored her sublimity, and followed her steps with passionate enthusiasm, amidst that solemn and stupendous scenery, those melan choly and sacred solitudes, where she speaks in a voice so well understood by the mysterious sympa thy of the feeling heart. With what soothing emo tions, what eager delight, do we follow the traveller, who leads us from the cares, the sorrows, the joys of ordinary life, to wander in another hemisphere ! to mark unknown forms of luxuriant beauty, and un known objects of majestic greatness — to view a new earth, and even new skies ! from which the stars known from childhood, the stars of home, have disappeared, and are succeeded by a foreign firmament.

How often will posterity also turn from the terrible page of our history, to repose on the charm of a narrative, which dis plays the most enlarged views of science and philan thropy ! What sympathy does the traveller excite, while he imprints the first step, that leads to civilization and all its boundless blessings, along the trackless desert, and, struggling with the savageness of the un tamed wilderness, obtains a victory that belongs to mankind. It were erroneous to believe, that countries, because they have been already visited, are therefore known. A penetrating and capacious mind finds every where new materials for observation. The work, of which I now offer the translation to the public, relates to regions of which the greater part have never till now been describ ed by a scientific and learned traveller.

A few botanists had indeed herbalized along those distant coasts, and added some riches to the vegetable world. La Con damine, Don Jorge Juan, and Bouguer, scaled the lofty Andes ; but it was only to measure their height, and make astronomical observations. Their journals, w-hich date farther back than half a century, were written when

PREFACE.

. V geology did not exist as a science, and the physical struc ture of those giants of our Globe was yet unknown. What has hitherto been wanting is now accomplish ed. M. de Humbolt has in this work displayed, more than in any other he has yet published, his peculiar manner of contemplating nature in all her overwhelm ing greatness. The appropriate character of his writ ings is the faculty he possesses of raising the mind to general ideas, without neglecting individual facts ; and while he appears only to address himself to our reason, he has the secret of awakening the imagination and of being understood by the heart. The general picture, which he has drawn of the Isle of Teneriffe, and the geography of its plants, proves, that in objects often viewed by others he has seen what they had failed to discern ; and in almost the whole of the remainder of his travels he pursues alone the diffi cult path of scientific discovery.

From the Canary Islands he passes to Cumana, New Andalusia, and the missions of the Indians Chaymas, the province of the Caraccas, the banks of the Apure and the Rio Negro, to the limits of Brazil, New Grenada, the Andes of Popayan, Porto, Quito, and Peru, the western part of the Amazons, Mexico, and the Isle of Cuba. How majestic is nature in the forest and on the banks of the Oronoco ! the communications of which flood with that of the Amazons M. de Humbolt has astronomically laid down and determined. This great work will now soon be terminated. M. de Humbolt remains in Paris for this purpose, with the permission of his own government. In becoming his interpreter in the text of the Pic turesque Atlas, and the Personal Narrative of his voyage, I have been encouraged by the care with which he has read most of my pages, and corrected many of my errors.

M) scanty knowledge of the first principles of science seemed indeed to preclude the full comprehen sion of many of the subjects of which he treats ; but a short experience convinced me, that what is clearly ex pressed may be clearly understood ; and I shall per haps be pardoned, if, from the novelty of the subject.

PREFACE.

. VI neologisms sometimes occur. Long a stranger to my country, I have indeed no critical favour to expect ; I mean that species of favor, which arises from personal acquaintance, and, perhaps even unknowing to the critic himself, softens the stern brow of reproof, and leads him unconsciously to be indulgent, when he only meant to be just. I have nothing to hope from such predilection. My literary patrons belonged to what Ossian calls " the days of other years." Above all, the learned protector of my early pen, he whom I have already mentioned, and of whom I never think without emotion, is long since no more ! But in appearing be fore an English tribunal, I will not fear injustice, if I have nothing to hope from partiality ; and whatever may be the fate of my imperfect copy of a sublime model, I shall never feel, that the moments were mis pent, which I have employed in so soothing, and so noble a task.

HELEN MARIA WILLIAMS. INTRODUCTION, :©: TWELVE years have elapsed since I quitted Europe, to examine the interior of the new continent. Devoted from my earliest youth to the study of nature, feeling with enthusiasm the savage beauties of a country guarded by mountains, and shaded by an cient forests, I experienced in my travels such en joyments, as have amply compensated for the priva tions inseparable from a laborious, and often agitated life. These enjo ments, wh ch I endeavoured to impart to my readers in my Remarks upon the Step pes, and in the Essay on the Physiognomy of Plants, were not the only fruits I have reaped from an under taking, formed with the design of contributing to the progress of natural philosophy. I had long prepared myself for these observations which were the principal objects of my v< y-age to the torrid zone.

I was provided with instruments of easy and convenient use, constructed by artists of the highest reputation ; and I enjoyed the special protection of a government, which, far from presenting obstacles to my investigations, constantly honored me with every mark of re gard and confidence. I was aided by a courageous and enlightened friend, and, what is singularly propi tious to the success of participated labor, whose zeal and equanimity never failed, amidst the fatigues and dangers to which we were sometimes exposed.