ACCOUNT OF BOOKS. 



761 



• ** The space on which the town 

 stands is 2,000 square paces, but 

 aft has done nothing to level the 

 irregularities of the ground, so 

 that it being placed on a declivity, 

 on the bank of the first ridge, its 

 streets have a continued and uni- 

 form descent and ascent, princi- 

 pally inclining to the north and 

 south. 



*' It is watered by four small 

 rivulets. The first, called Guira, 

 bounds it on the south ; the se- 

 cond, called Anauco, laves it to 

 the East: over the latter is thrown a 

 handsome bridge called LaCande- 

 laria, which leads to the valley of 

 Chacao. The third is the Caroata, 

 taking a course from north to 

 south, leaving the west division. 

 It separates that part of the town 

 called St. John's, with which com- 

 munication is had by another stone 

 bridge. Thefourthis theCatuche, 

 which principally supplies the 

 town with water, that is conveyed 

 for its convenience to several 

 public fountains. There are five 

 small bridges over it of a very in- 

 ferior order. 



"The streets, like those of mo- 

 dern towns, are regular, about 25 

 feet wide, and paved ; their cross- 

 ings form squares, at a distance of 

 about 300 feet from each other. 

 The town from the surrounding 

 elevations has a handsome white 

 appearance, and is well built and 

 ornamented in the Spanish style. 

 There are three public squares 

 which deserve that name, viz. La- 

 Placa Mayor, La Candelaria, and 

 St. Paul's ; the other two, called 

 the Trinity and Del Lion, are very 

 mean. There are, besides, six 

 smaller square openings, before 

 their respective churches and 

 convents. 



Vol. LU. 



** Their mode of building is, as 

 in the city of Santo Domingo, in 

 moulds of about five feet long, 

 and of the width of the wall, in 

 which sand, stones, lime, and a 

 glutinous substance are beat up 

 and mixed, and in time, take the 

 consistfcncy of stone ; and when 

 well plasterecl andcoloured appear 

 like it. The v?nlls being thick 

 protect the inside from the heat. 

 The covering of the roofs is of 

 bended tiles. 



" Theirstyle of furniture.though 

 aided by many importations from 

 the English islands, is yet antique, 

 and consists of large gilded chairs 

 and sofas, hanging in damask red 

 silk, gilded bed-posts, heavily 

 carved and ornamented, tables 

 with gilded legs, gilded lustres, 

 &c. The alcova, or family bed- 

 room, as in Spain, opens into the 

 principal apartment or sitting 

 room. 



" There are no public buildings 

 but those dedicated to religion. 

 The houses of the captain-general, 

 of the Royal Audience and mili- 

 tary hospitals are of an indifferent 

 appearance. The barracks are, 

 however, good buildings, new, 

 elevated, and have a full command 

 of the town ; they are capable of 

 containing 2,000 men, who are all 

 regulars ; the militia having sepa- 

 rate apartments. 



" Caracas is an archbishop's see 

 that only dates from the year 

 1803, being till then only a bi- 

 shopric ; the limits of this diocese 

 extend further than the civil and 

 military jurisdiction. Its original 

 seat was at Coro, established 

 there in 1532. 



" The cathedral for so import- 

 ant and large a city, is an inferior 

 building, and has nothing of ele- 



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