Elias's mountain, and sprang over
Behring's straits into Asia; I followed the western coast in its
various windings, carefully observing which of the neighbouring isles
was accessible to me. From the peninsula of Malacca, my boots carried
me to Sumatra, Java, Bali, and Lombock. I made many attempts--often
with danger, and always unsuccessfully--to force my way over the
numerous little islands and rocks with which this sea is studded,
wishing to find a north-west passage to Borneo and other islands of the
Archipelago.

At last I sat down at the extreme point of Lombock, my eyes turned
towards the south-east, lamenting that I had so soon reached the limits
allotted to me, and bewailing my fate as a captive in his grated cell.
Thus was I shut out from that remarkable country, New Holland, and the
islands of the southern ocean, so essentially necessary to a knowledge
of the earth, and which would have best assisted me in the study of the
animal and vegetable kingdoms. And thus, at the very outset, I beheld
all my labours condemned to be limited to mere fragments.

Ah! Chamisso, what is the activity of man?

Frequently in the most rigorous winters of the southern hemisphere I
have rashly thrown myself on a fragment of drifting ice between Cape
Horn and Van Dieman's Land, in the hope of effecting a passage to New
Holland, reckless of the cold and the vast ocean, reckless of my fate,
even should this savage land prove my grave.

But all in vain--I never reached New Holland. Each time, when defeated
in my attempt, I returned to Lombock; and seated at its extreme point,
my eyes directed to the south-east, I gave way afresh to lamentations
that my range of investigation was so limited. At last I tore myself
from the spot, and, heartily grieved at my disappointment, returned to
the interior of Asia. Setting out at morning dawn, I traversed it from
east to west, and at night reached the cave in Thebes which I had
previously selected for my dwelling-place, and had visited yesterday
afternoon.

[Illustration: At last I sat down at the extreme point of Lombock,
lamenting.]

After a short repose, as soon as daylight had visited Europe, it was my
first care to provide myself with the articles of which I stood most in
need. First of all a drag, to act on my boots; for I had experienced
the inconvenience of these whenever I wished to shorten my steps and
examine surrounding objects more fully. A pair of slippers to go over
the boo