76 THE CONVENT OF CARIPE. 



trees, the Indian village of Aricagua. Towards the 

 north, a narrow slip of land, the peninsula of Araya 

 formed a dark stripe on the sea, which, being illumined 

 by the raj^s of the sun, reflected a strong light. Beyond 

 the peninsula the horizon was bounded by Cape Macanao, 

 the black rocks of which rose amid the waters like an 

 immense bastion. 



At last the travellers reached the convent of Caripe. 

 It was backed with an enormous wall of perpendicular 

 rock, covered with thick vegetation: the stone, which 

 was of resplendent whiteness, appeared only here and 

 there between the foliage. In a small square in front of 

 the convent was a cross of Brazil wood, surrounded with 

 benches for the infirm monks. They were telling their 

 beads when Humboldt and Bonpland arrived. 



They were received with great hospitality by the 

 monks of Caripe. The building had an inner court, sur- 

 rounded by an arcade, like the convents in Spain. This 

 inclosed place was highly convenient for setting up their 

 instruments and making observations. The}^ found a 

 numerous society in the convent. Young monks, re- 

 cently arrived from Spain, were just about to settle in 

 the Missions, while old infirm missionaries sought for 

 health in the fresh and salubrious air of the mountains 

 of Caripe. Humboldt was lodged in the cell of the su- 

 perior, which contained a pretty good collection of books. 

 He found there the Teatro Critico of Feijoo, the Lettres 

 Edijiantes^ and the Traite cC Electricite hj abbe Nollet. 

 It seemed as if the progress of knowledge had advanced 

 even in the forests of America. 



But that which conferred the most celebrity on the 

 valley of Caripe, was the great Cavern of the Guacharo. 



