46 POPULATION OF PORTO CAEELLO. 



former, though considered only as its suburb. The bottom 

 of the basin or lake which forms the harbour of Porto 

 Cabello, turns behind this suburb to the soutVwest. It is 

 a marshy ground filled with noisome and stagnant water. 

 The town, which has at present nearly nine thousand inha- 

 bitants, owes its origin to an illicit commerce, attracted to 

 these shores by the proximity of the town of Burburata, 

 which was founded in 1549. It is only since the adminis- 

 tration of the Biscayans, and of the company of Ghiipuzcoa, 

 that Porto Cabello, which was but a hamlet, has been 

 converted into a well-fortified town. The vessels of La 

 G-uayra, which is less a port than a bad open roadstead, 

 come to Porto Cabello to be caulked and repaired. 



The real defence of the harbour consists in the low bat- 

 teries on the neck of land at Punta Brava, and on the reef ; 

 but from ignorance of this principle, a new fort, the Mira- 

 dor of Solano* has been constructed at a great expense, on 

 the mountains commanding the suburb towards the south. 

 More than ten thousand mules are annually exported from 

 Porto Cabello. It is curious enough to see these animals 

 embarked; they are thrown down with ropes, and then 

 hoisted on board the vessels by means of a machine resem- 

 bling a crane. Eanged in two files, the mules with difficulty 

 keep their footing during the rolling and pitching of the ship ; 

 and in order to frighten and render them more docile, a 

 drum is beaten during a great part of the day and night. 

 We may guess what quiet a passenger enjoys, who has the 

 courage to embark for Jamaica in a schooner laden with 

 mules. 



We left Porto Cabello on the first of March, at sunrise. 

 We saw with surprise the great number of boats that were 

 laden with fruit to be sold at the market. It reminded me 

 of a fine morning at Venice. The town presents in general, 

 on the side towards the sea, a cheerful and agreeable aspect. 

 Mountains covered with vegetation, and crowned with 

 peaks called Las Tetas de Ilaria, which, from their outline 

 would be taken for rocks of a trap-formation, form the 

 background of the landscape. Near the coast all is bare, 

 white, and strongly illumined, while the screen of mountains 



* The Mirador is situate eastward oi the Vigia Alta, and south-east of 

 the battery of the salt -works and the powder-mill. 



