Equinoctial Regions of America, vol 1 | Page 3

-20.2 75 167 40 104 5 41 -30 -22 74
165.2 39 102.2 4 39.2 -31 -23.8 73 163.4 38 100.4 3 37.4 -32 -25.6 72
161.6 37 98.6 2 35.6 -33 -27.4 71 159.8 36 96.8 1 33.8 -34 -29.2 70
158 35 95 0 32 -35 -31 69 156.2 34 93.2 -1 30.2 -36 -32.8 68 154.4 33
91.4 -2 28.4 -37 -34.6 67 152.6 32 89.6 -3 26.6 -38 -36.4 66 150.8 31
87.8 -4 24.8 -39 -38.2
***
VOLUME 1.
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.

CHAPTER 1.
8.
DEPARTURE FROM CARIPE.--MOUNTAIN AND FOREST OF
SANTA MARIA.-- MISSION OF CATUARO.--PORT OF
CARIACO.

CHAPTER 1.

9.
PHYSICAL CONSTITUTION AND MANNERS OF THE
CHAYMAS.--THEIR LANGUAGE.-- FILIATION OF THE
NATIONS WHICH INHABIT NEW ANDALUCIA.-- PARIAGOTOS
SEEN BY COLUMBUS.

CHAPTER 1.
10.
SECOND ABODE AT
CUMANA.--EARTHQUAKES.--EXTRAORDINARY METEORS.

CHAPTER 1.
11.
PASSAGE FROM CUMANA TO LA GUAYRA.--MORRO OF
NUEVA BARCELONA.-- CAPE CODERA.--ROAD FROM LA
GUAYRA TO CARACAS.

CHAPTER 1.
12.
GENERAL VIEW OF THE PROVINCES OF VENEZUELA.--
DIVERSITY OF THEIR INTERESTS.--CITY AND VALLEY OF
CARACAS.-- CLIMATE.

CHAPTER 1.
13.
ABODE AT CARACAS.--MOUNTAINS IN THE VICINITY OF
THE TOWN.-- EXCURSION TO THE SUMMIT OF THE
SILLA.--INDICATIONS OF MINES.

CHAPTER 1.
14.

EARTHQUAKES AT CARACAS.--CONNECTION OF THOSE
PHENOMENA WITH THE VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS OF THE
WEST INDIA ISLANDS.

CHAPTER 1.
15.
DEPARTURE FROM CARACAS.--MOUNTAINS OF SAN PEDRO
AND OF LOS TEQUES.-- LA VICTORIA.--VALLEYS OF
ARAGUA.
***
INTRODUCTION BY THE AUTHOR.
Many years have elapsed since I quitted Europe, to explore the interior
of the New Continent. Devoted from my earliest youth to the study of
nature, feeling with enthusiasm the wild beauties of a country guarded
by mountains and shaded by ancient forests, I experienced in my
travels, enjoyments which have amply compensated for the privations
inseparable from a laborious and often agitated life. These enjoyments,
which I endeavoured to impart to my readers in my 'Remarks upon the
Steppes,' and in the 'Essay on the Physiognomy of Plants,' were not the
only fruits I reaped from an undertaking formed with the design of
contributing to the progress of natural philosophy. I had long prepared
myself for the observations which were the principal object of my
journey to the torrid zone. I was provided with instruments of easy and
convenient use, constructed by the ablest makers, and I enjoyed the
special protection of a government which, far from presenting obstacles
to my investigations, constantly honoured me with every mark of
regard and confidence. I was aided by a courageous and enlightened
friend, and it was singularly propitious to the success of our
participated labour, that the zeal and equanimity of that friend never
failed, amidst the fatigues and dangers to which we were sometimes
exposed.
Under these favourable circumstances, traversing regions which for
ages have remained almost unknown to most of the nations of Europe, I
might add even to Spain, M. Bonpland and myself collected a
considerable number of materials, the publication of which may throw
some light on the history of nations, and advance the study of nature.

I had in view a two-fold purpose in the travels of which I now publish
the historical narrative. I wished to make known the countries I had
visited; and to collect such facts as are fitted to elucidate a science of
which we as yet possess scarcely the outline, and which has been
vaguely denominated Natural History of the World, Theory of the Earth,
or Physical Geography. The last of these two objects seemed to me the
most important. I was passionately devoted to botany and certain parts
of zoology, and I flattered myself that our investigations might add
some new species to those already known, both in the animal and
vegetable kingdoms; but preferring the connection of facts which have
been long observed, to the knowledge of insulated facts, although new,
the discovery of an unknown genus seemed to me far less interesting
than an observation on the geographical relations of the vegetable
world, on the migrations of the social plants, and the limit of the height
which their different tribes attain on the flanks of the Cordilleras.
The natural sciences are connected by the same