96 Col. R. "Wright's Meteorological Observatmis made 



Climate is one of the first agents which operates upon the 

 propagation of the human race over the face of the globe, 

 presenting itself sometimes as a benignant conductor, at 

 other times raising a hostile barrier which science and in- 

 dustry -slowly overcome. The Spaniards who peopled that 

 part of South America now under consideration, as soon as 

 they had formed on the coast the establishments necessary to 

 preserve their connexion with the mother country, seem to 

 have traversed hastily the fertile but insalubrious lowlands to 

 meet on the Cordillera a temperature adapted to their habits 

 and constitutions. The dominion of the Incas had, upon si- 

 milar principles, extended itself along the immense ridge; 

 and the descendants of the conquerors and conquered are, to 

 this day, found united on the same elevations, from whence 

 the population has descended gradually into the plains ; and 

 would have done so much more slowly, but for the importation 

 of the African race, who find on the sandy coast and sultry 

 savana a climate congenial to their constitution. It may 

 be a matter of curiosity to inquire, why that portion of the 

 bronzed race which constituted the empire of the Incas and of 

 the Lipas has constantly exhibited a constitutional type so dif- 

 ferent from the tribes of the same race now thinly scattered 

 through the plains and valleys. The dominion of the Incas 

 could scarcely be said to have established itself in the low- 

 lands. "With the exception of the dry narrow tract of the 

 Peruvian coast, their empire was exclusively of the moun- 

 tains; and the Indians who speak the Qtdchua, or general 

 language of the Incas, still manifest the same preference for 

 cold and elevated situations ; sleeping in the open air rather 

 than under a roof, and exhibiting an insurmountable repug- 

 nance to descend into the hot country, where ihey fall victims 

 more rapidly than even the Europeans. The latter, although 

 commercial interests have led them to form establishments 

 on the coasts, and more partially on the great rivers, may be 

 said to live in a state of perpetual hostility with the climate. 

 Their complexions become sallow, their frames feeble; and 

 although, where heat is uncombined with great moisture, as 

 in Cumana, Coro and Maracaybo, they are subject to kvf 

 diseases of a violent character, the strength is gradually un- 

 dermined, and the species may be rather said to vegetate than 

 to increase. The individuals of African race, who complain 

 of cold when the yearly mean is 75°, alone develope all tlie 

 physical strength and energy of their character in the hot 

 lowlands of the coast and interior. The mixed race, or peo- 

 ple of colour, unite to bodily hardihood intrepidity, ambition, 

 and a deadly feeling of those prejudices which, in spite of 

 laws, continue to separate them from the 'white descendants of 



