CARACCAS. 



Ctraeeu. and CapcCodera, the distance is twenty-five leagues. 



>^.i- V '^^ '1'he coast then takes a direction to the south-east, 

 ;uul conducts us to the lake of TA( \iuuuA, about 

 thirteen leagues and a half distance from the Cape. 

 In its form this lake cx.ictly resembles a bay, a name 

 which it would certainly have obtained, were it not 

 for a bar of quicksand, which frequently cuts off its 

 communication with the sea. Its form is circular ; 

 and from the sea on the north-east to its deepest re- 

 cess on the south-east, it measures about seven 

 leagues. The next port we meet with is BARCE- 

 LONA, which is so shallow as to be incapable of ad- 

 mitting vessels of any considerable size, and affords 

 no shelter but against the breeze. At the distance 

 of one league to the north, however, the island of 

 Borracha presents, on its south side, a safe harbour 

 for ships of any magnitude. From Barcelona the 

 coast runs to the north-east as far as Cumana, at the 

 distance of two leagues. The intermediate space is 

 filled with a chain of islands not far separated from 

 the coast. Some of these are provided with bays and 

 harbours, none of which, however, are of such im- 

 portance as to merit particular notice. The port of 

 d'M\\.v is well sheltered against the inclemency of 

 the weather ; but we forbear giving any particular 

 description of it, till we come to speak of the go- 

 vernment and town of the same name. To the east 

 of Cumana, at a considerable distance, is the GULF 

 of CAKIACO, formed by a part of the coast of Cu- 

 mana, the point of Araya, and the Barrigon. This 

 gulf extends ten leagues from east to west, and is 

 from three to four leagues broad. Towards the 

 centre its depth is from 80 to 100 fathoms. Pro- 

 tected by the surrounding mountains from every wind 

 except the trade wind, its surface is in general as 

 smooth as a lake : to that wind, however, it is en- 

 tirely exposed, and its waters of course are agitated 

 in proportion to the strength of the breeze. In this 

 gulf, the lake of Eveco, the Gurintar, and Juanantar, 

 are three places very convenient for loading. The 

 point of AR YYA, lying east from the mouth of the 

 river of that name, is rendered dangerous by its low- 

 ness, and by a sand bank, on the north-east, almost 

 on a level with the surface, which advances two 

 leagues into the sea. To this point, however, the 

 attention of those who arrive from Europe must be 

 directed, if they wish to make an easy entrance to 

 the port of Cumana. For that purpose it is abso- 

 lutely necessary to bear off from the north-east and 

 south-west till they have doubled the point ; after 

 which they may coast along the shore for half a 

 league. Advancing still to the east, we arrive at a 

 large gulf, which the Spaniards call GOI.FO TBISTE, 

 but which is known to the French and English by 

 the name of the GULF of PAIUA. On the west of 

 this gulf is that part of Terra Firma, called Paria, 

 and on the east the isle of Trinidad. From these 

 two lands on the north, two points jut out, between 

 which lie two islands, with regard to these two 

 points nearly east and west. These islands almost 

 close the gulf on the north, leaving, however, be- 

 .tween them, a space in which are four openings cal- 

 led the mouths of the Dragon, by which the super- 

 fluous waters of the gulf are discharged. The largest 

 of these openings, being two leagues broad, lies' on 

 vol.. v. PART n. 



the west b< .-twecn Point Paria and the island of Cha- Caraeeas. 

 cachacares. In thi inlet to the gulf there is nothing ^"Y"^ 

 dangerous except .a rock which just emerges from lort ** 

 the surface at two cables length from the island of 

 Chacachacares. Between this island and that of 

 Navios is a second and smaller mouth, called the 

 Vessels. Its channel, lying from north to south-east, 

 renders it very good for the going out, but very bad 

 for the entrance of ships. A third mouth, called 

 the mouth of Huevos, (Egg's mouth), is formed by 

 the isle of Navios on the west, and that of Monas on 

 the east. Lying in a direction from north, north-east, 

 to south, south-east, it is much more convenient for en- 

 tering than going out. The fourth mouth is between 

 Trinidad, and the point that is most to the west south- 

 west of that island. It is called the mouth de Los Mo- 

 nos, (Monkey's Mouth), probably because it is ren- 

 dered narrower and more difficult by a rock, which, 

 from its position in the centre, occasions a continual 

 commotion, while, at the same time, the land of Tri- 

 nidad, by excluding the winds, occasions a calm 

 which is but rarely interrupted by momentary gusts. 

 This gulf is twenty-five leagues from cast to west, 

 and fifteen from north to south. In all that extent 

 the anchorage is good, but the depth varies from 

 eight to thirty fathoms : upon the coast of Paria, 

 the soundings are much less. This gulf is in fact a 

 real port, which, in extent and excellence, is scarcely 

 surpassed by the finest in the world. Its bottom is 

 muddy, except on the coast of Terra Firma, where 

 there are shoals and banks of sand. Though the 

 waters of this gulf have been said by some authors 

 to be fresh, they are in reality as salt as those of the 

 sea. A considerable volume of water is poured into 

 it on the south south-west, by different mouths of 

 the Oronoko, with a velocity which greatly incom- 

 modes vessels steering that way on their passage. 

 Depons thinks it probable that a part of those wa- 

 ters have, in the progress of ages, detached from 

 Terra Firma what is at present called Trinidad, and 

 that their ravages will not cease till they have open- 

 ed the mouths of the Dragon, and thrown them- 

 selves into the ocean. The currents, which are al- 

 ways carried into the eea by the channels of these 

 mouths, render it impossible to enter, particularly bv 

 the small ones, unless the winds be highly favour- 

 able. Nor is it less difficult to enter on the south 

 than it is on the north. It cannot be attempted with 

 safety unless the wind be from the south-east, and then 

 it is necessary to coast it to the south of the island of 

 Trinidad as far as point Hicacos, which must be 

 approached within two cables length, in order to 

 pass between that point and a shoal in the middle of 

 the channel, formed by the same point and the small 

 island of Soldado. There are several ports and roads 

 along the coast of Paria which greatly facilitate the 

 communication with Trinidad. 



After this detailed account of the climate, the na- Agricul- 

 tural history, and physical aspect of this country, it cure, 

 becomes an interesting inquiry, what improvement 

 do the inhabitants make of the advantages which na- 

 ture has so liberally afforded ? Few parts of Spanish 

 America are under better cultivation than Caraccas, 

 because when its mines disappointed the expectations 

 of its conquerors, they were compelled to depend o* 

 3 it 



