103 
After a stay of teu days in Valencia 
we departed, much gratified with the 
attentions we had experienced. At 
the distance of three leagues we reached 
the village of Guacara, where we re- 
mained till evening, with part of the 
family of the Marquis de Toro, which 
we found resident in that village. At 
a late hour we reached the Pulperia, at 
Mariara, where we passed the night. 
The following morning (Saturday) 
we left about seven o’clock, and con- 
finued our route, which now laid 
through the vallies of Aragoa, to Ma- 
racay, where we arrived at mid-day. 
The luxuriance of the vegetation, 
which now surrounded us—the general 
aspect of the country and the roads 
were of the best and most captivating 
description. About ten o’clock we 
reached the border of the Lake of Va- 
lencia, of nearly the whole of which 
we were enabled to obtain an excellent 
view. Its shining unrufiled surface 
and clear waters made it a great orna- 
ment to the general scenery around us, 
It contains many small islands, of 
which that of Burros is, I believe, the 
largest. The lake contains only oue 
description of fish, and that not parti- 
cularly abundant. 
As the roads were sandy in places as 
we advanced, we found the heat at 
mid-day greater than any we had yet 
experienced during our whole journey; 
from this the rich foliage on the road 
side afforded us an occasional and wel- 
eome shelter. 
Maraeay, the first of the villages we 
came to in the vallies of Aragoa, is 
very pleasantly situated, contains many 
respecfable houses, to each of which, as 
well as to the numerous cottages which 
constitute the principal part of it, there 
is a small garden attached. The houses 
are generally white, and all the largest 
are constructed with brick. The neigh- 
bouring country contains many haci- 
endas of cocoa, coffee and indigo, and 
is remarkable for its great fertility. 
The population of Maracay is some- 
thing exceeding 2000 persons. 
The scarcity of mules obliged us to 
continue our route to Turmero, before 
we could procure a relay. As the latter 
was but three leagues distant, we ar- 
rived a little before six o’clock in the 
evening, and were detained the whole 
of the following day. We here visited 
the tobacco warehouses, which are very 
spacious and commodious, but contain 
very little tobacco at present. The 
factor, and all the authorities employed 
Recent Journey in Columbia. 
| March 1, 
by the government in this branch of 
the public revenue, were very obliging 
in shewing and explaining every thing 
as to the modes of preserving, weighing, 
and curing the tobacco, &c. &ce. 
The village of Turmero is about 
equal in importance and extent to Ma- 
racay, but containing, perhaps, rather 
a larger population, as it is the resi- 
dence of the commandant-general of 
the vallies of Aragoa, in which this 
village is also comprehended. The 
tobacco, which is sold here, is grown 
principally on the borders of the Lake 
of Valencia, and is eagerly sought for 
by all the neighbouring towns aud 
villages. 
We left Turmero early on the Mon- 
day morning, and arrived at La Vic- 
toria about mid-day. The distance is 
calculated at five leagues. La Victoria 
is larger than either Turmero or Mara- 
cay, and contains a population probably 
equal to that of both. There are some 
very good houses, and the town gene- 
rally presents a respectable appearance 5 
the church is the handsomest I have 
seen in the whole republic: the climate 
is hot. The earthquake, I have so fre- 
quently had occasion to mention, ex- 
tended its ravages here also, and de- 
stroyed many of the best buildings, 
which remain yet in ruins. 
We remained at La Victoria during 
the remainder ot the day, slept there, 
and left for San Pedro the day follow- 
ing at day-light. 
Between eight and nine o’clock we 
reached Las Coquisses, where we found 
a very tolerable posada. About ten 
o’cloek we began the ascent of the 
mountain, and arrived at Las Alajas, 
or the summit, between one and twe 
o’clock, where we took shelter fron: 
the sun till three, and entered San 
Pedro, after a long and tedious descent, 
at la Oracion. We found San Pedro a 
small inconsiderable village, with no 
striking peculiarity but that of a very 
cool aud agreeable atmosphere. At 
day-light, the following morning, we 
departed from this village for Caraccas- 
For a considerable time we resumed 
our yesterday’s task of ascending, and 
having reached the summit of the 
mountain at Buenavista, we com- 
menced the descent, which, at the expi- 
ration of an hour anda half, brought us 
ou the plain of Caraccas, between eight 
and nine o'clock. Somewhat fatigued 
with om morning’s exercise, we re- 
mained an hour at Las Ajuntus, and 
eutered the capital a few minutes be- 
fore 
