68 MOUNTAINS OF TACABIGUA. 



particularly from the valley of the Eio Muci ju,* to the 

 of Merida. The inhabitants altogether neglect this produc- 

 tion, so much sought for in commerce. 



CHAPTEE XVII. 



Mountains which separate the Valleys of Aragua from the Llanos of 

 Caracas. Villa de Cura. Parapara. Llanos or Steppes. Calabozo. 



THE chain of mountains, bordering the lake of Tacarigua 

 towards the south, forms in some sort the northern shore of 

 the great basin of the Llanos or savannahs of Caracas. To 

 descend from the valleys of Aragua into these savannahs, it 

 is necessary to cross the mountains of Guigue and of Tucu- 

 tunemo. Prom a peopled country embellished by culti- 

 vation, we plunge into a vast solitude. Accustomed to the 

 aspect of rocks, and to the shade of valleys, the traveller 

 beholds with astonishment these savannahs without trees, 

 these immense plains, which seem to ascend to the horizon. 



Before I trace the scenery of the Llanos, or of the region 

 of pasturage, I will briefly describe the road we took 

 from Nueva Valencia, by Villa de Cura and San Juan, to 

 the little village of Ortiz, at the entrance of the steppes. 

 We left the valleys of Aragua on the 6th of March before 

 sunrise. We passed over a plain richly cultivated, keeping 

 along the south-west side of the lake of Valencia, and cross- 

 ing the ground left uncovered by the waters of the lake. 

 AVe were never weary of admiring the fertility of the soil, 

 covered with calabashes, water-melons, and plantains. The 

 rising of the sun was announced by the distant noise of the 

 howling monkeys. Approaching a group of trees, which rise 

 in the midst of the plain, between those parts which were 

 anciently the islets of Don Pedro and La Negra, we saw 

 numerous bands of araguatos moving as in procession and 

 very slowly, from one tree to another. A male was followed 

 by a great number of females; several of the latter carrying 



* This little river descends from the Paramo de los Conejos, and flow* 

 csio the Rio Albarregas. 



