THE CBORRO OF MARACCAS. 165 



most I coiilcl do was to see at Aripo a small specimen of 

 that peculiar Savanna vegetation, which occupies thou- 

 sands of square miles on the mainland. 



If therefore the reader cares nothing for botanical and 

 geological speculations, he will be wise to skip this chapter. 

 But those who are interested in the vast changes of level 

 and distribution of land which have taken place all over the 

 world since the present forms of animals and vegetables 

 were established on it, may possibly find a valuable fact or 

 two in what I thought I saw at the Savanna of Aripo. 



My first point was, of course, the little city of San Josef. 

 To an Englishman, the place will be always interesting as 

 the scene of Ealeigh's exploit, and the capture of Berreos ; 

 and, to one who has received the kindness which I have 

 received from the Spanish gentlemen of the neighbourhood, 

 a spot full of most grateful memories. It lies pleasantly 

 enough, on a rise at the southern foot of the mountains, and 

 at the mouth of a torrent which comes down from the famous 

 '' Chorro," or waterfall, of Maraccas. In going up to that 

 waterfall, just at the back of the town, I found buried, in 

 several feet of earth, a great number of seemingly recent 

 but very ancient shells. Whether they be remnants of an 

 elevated sea-beach, or of some Indian "kitchen-midden," I 

 dare not decide. But the question is well worth the atten- 

 tion of any geologist who may go that way. The waterfall, 



