DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70267#0526
474 mr. von humboldt’s researches, &c«
earthquake which happened on the 4th of February 1797f
shook the whole province of Quito, destroyed 40,000' hu-
man beings in one moment, and hurled the summits of the
highest mountains down into the vajlies. Since that time
the subterraneous fire never ceases, shocks of earthquakes
are constantly felt, volcanoes, extinguished for many
years, smoke without intermission. Yet unmindful of the
surrounding dangers, the inhabitants of Quito indulge in
enjoyments, as refined, luxurious, and extravagant, as
any which London or Paris can offer, and with a bent for
pleasures, which is no-where else observable in the same
degree, The earthquake we have just mentioned, has also
had a very prejudicial influence over the temperature of
the air, and rendered it severely cold. An eternal frost
reigns on the snow-clad ridges of the highest mountains,
where vegetation can be only traced in some small specie?
of moss, and where no. living being meets the traveller’?
eye, while on the less elevated mountains, the giant of the
winged tribes, the condor, at times soars over his head.
At Riobamba, Mr. Von Humboldt met with some
highly valuable manuscripts relative to the Ancient His-
tory of the Nations, inhabiting the part of South America,
which hitherto has been entirely unknown. 1 It is written,
by one of the ancient Yncas, in a language now dead, and
translated into Spanish by one of his successors. The
King of Lincan shewed this manuscript to our traveller,
vrho extracted the most memorable passages. Upon the
whole, Mr. Von Humboldt forms a more favourable judg-
ment on the knowledge of the Indians, on the ancient state
of their sciences and arts, and on the beauty and richness
of their idioms, than other travellers have done, who did
not reside so long in the country as himself. He afterward?
visited the sulphur-mountain at Tiscan, the ruins of the
palaces of the ancient Yncas, proceeded to the city of
Cuenca, and from thence through the, province of Jaei>
ulong the banks of the Amazon River to Lima.,
DUTC^
earthquake which happened on the 4th of February 1797f
shook the whole province of Quito, destroyed 40,000' hu-
man beings in one moment, and hurled the summits of the
highest mountains down into the vajlies. Since that time
the subterraneous fire never ceases, shocks of earthquakes
are constantly felt, volcanoes, extinguished for many
years, smoke without intermission. Yet unmindful of the
surrounding dangers, the inhabitants of Quito indulge in
enjoyments, as refined, luxurious, and extravagant, as
any which London or Paris can offer, and with a bent for
pleasures, which is no-where else observable in the same
degree, The earthquake we have just mentioned, has also
had a very prejudicial influence over the temperature of
the air, and rendered it severely cold. An eternal frost
reigns on the snow-clad ridges of the highest mountains,
where vegetation can be only traced in some small specie?
of moss, and where no. living being meets the traveller’?
eye, while on the less elevated mountains, the giant of the
winged tribes, the condor, at times soars over his head.
At Riobamba, Mr. Von Humboldt met with some
highly valuable manuscripts relative to the Ancient His-
tory of the Nations, inhabiting the part of South America,
which hitherto has been entirely unknown. 1 It is written,
by one of the ancient Yncas, in a language now dead, and
translated into Spanish by one of his successors. The
King of Lincan shewed this manuscript to our traveller,
vrho extracted the most memorable passages. Upon the
whole, Mr. Von Humboldt forms a more favourable judg-
ment on the knowledge of the Indians, on the ancient state
of their sciences and arts, and on the beauty and richness
of their idioms, than other travellers have done, who did
not reside so long in the country as himself. He afterward?
visited the sulphur-mountain at Tiscan, the ruins of the
palaces of the ancient Yncas, proceeded to the city of
Cuenca, and from thence through the, province of Jaei>
ulong the banks of the Amazon River to Lima.,
DUTC^