FEOM CORUNNA TO PUERTO CABELLO. 271 



height, which connect these Cordilleras with those of Santa 

 Martha and Quito. 



6 The oppressive and almost unbearable heat did not prevent 

 me from observing the solar eclipse of the 28th of October. On 

 the same day I took altitudes of the sun with Bird's quadrant ; 

 I give the results below, and I should be glad if you will kindly 

 look them through and correct them. . . . 



6 In making these observations, my face was so severely 

 burnt that I was obliged to keep my bed for two days and apply 

 medicinal remedies. The reflection from the white limestone 

 is distressing to the eyes and liable to injure the sight. The 

 metal of an instrument exposed to the power of the sun's rays 

 is heated to a temperature of 124. 



' If you have looked into my last work on " Subterranean 

 Meteorology," you will have seen that the temperature of the 

 interior of the earth is a problem of the highest interest. Here, 

 under 10 of latitude, the temperature at the depth of 371 

 fathoms is 66. My meteorological instruments have been 

 compared with those of the National Observatory at Paris, and 

 corrected according to that standard. At the sea level the 

 thermometer in the shade, even during the hottest part of 

 the year, does not rise above 91 ; the temperature keeps very 

 regular, rarely varying more than from 75 to 82. Early in 

 the afternoon, when the heat is at its maximum, a thunderstorm 

 comes on, and is succeeded by a display of lightning, which lasts 

 for nine hours. Truly a volcanic climate ! 



* On the 4th of November we experienced a severe shock of 

 earthquake ; no serious damage, fortunately, occurred. I was 

 surprised to notice that during the earthquake the dip of the 

 magnetic needle was reduced by the amount of 1*1. The 

 earthquake was followed by a succession of slighter shocks, and 

 on the 12th of November we had a regular display of fireworks* 

 From two o'clock till five in the morning large fire-balls passed 

 without intermission across the sky, and kept discharging 

 sprays of fire two degrees in diameter. The eastern portion of 

 the province of New Andalusia is covered with numerous small 

 volcanoes, emitting warm water, sulphur, sulphuretted hydrogen, 

 and petroleum. 



6 1 am to sail to-morrow for La Gruayra, and intend remaining 



