JOHNSTON: FLORA OF MARGARITA ISLAND. 169 



down to the plain near Asuncion. Each of the successively higher 

 hills of the western end swerve to the south in the form of ridges sloping 

 gradually to the open plain at San Antonio. From the highest point, 

 however, there proceeds a very distinctive ridge between San Antonio 

 and El Valle. This South Hill, as named for the collector's con- 

 venience, together with a similar hill to the north of El Valle, called 

 North Hill, curves so as partially to enclose El Valle, the most char- 

 acteristic valley of the island. Farther around the mountain to the 

 northeast of it, is the large valley of Asuncion, and northwest of this 

 is Tacarigua and at the western end again, on the north side, and 

 opposite El Valle, is the valley of San Juan. 



With this system of narrow valleys surrounding the mountain, 

 it may be expected that there are mountain torrents in the time of 

 heavy rains, and such is the case. The valleys of San Antonio and of 

 San Juan, however, have only the dry river beds in ordinary weather, 

 while the three other valleys alone have permanent streams. 



The above-mentioned springs are the source of one river in El 

 Valle which has been directed into a reservoir at the head of the valley 

 at an altitude of fifty meters, whence it is piped to the villages of El 

 Valle and Porlamar. There are ten public and a few private drinking 

 fountains or "pelas" on the way, a distance of eight kilometers. The 

 valley forks at its head so that to the northeast occurs a narrow ravine 

 in which flows a small stream. This is used for laundry purposes, 

 and is lost in the soil before it reaches the lower valley. There is also 

 a short distance to the east of this another stream which is confined 

 to private grounds on which are three concrete reservoirs provided 

 for it. 



The region between El ^'alle and Asuncion valley has no dis- 

 tinctive features, nor is there any stream. Although down in the 

 valley of Asuncion proper there is only one stream bed and not much 

 water, one and one half kilometers or more above the village at an 

 altitude of 450 meters there are no less than eight stream beds of 

 which six always contain running water. A trail passing through 

 the forest at the above altitude from one side of the valley around 

 the end to the other, furnishes an excellent opportunity to study 

 these streams. The valley is most curved toward the southeast and 

 gradually straightens out to the northwest. Beginning from the 

 southeast the streams or stream beds were numbered in collecting 

 merelv for convenience, but the numbers may well serve here. 



