150 PREPARATIONS FOE OUR YOYAGE. 



that indicate a reflux, an abrupt and instantaneous rapture, 

 of equilibrium in the aerial ocean. 



We have here discussed one of the most important phe- 

 nomena of the meteorology of the tropics, considered in its 

 most general view. In the same manner as the limits of the 

 trade-winds do not form circles parallel with the equator, the 

 action of the polar currents is variously felt in different 

 meridians. The chains of mountains and the coasts in the 

 same hemisphere have often opposite seasons. There are 

 several examples of these anomalies ; but, in order to dis- 

 cover the laws of nature, we must know, before we examine 

 into the causes of local perturbations, the average state of 

 the atmosphere, and the constant type of its variations. 



The aspect of the sky, the progress of the electricity, and 

 the shower of the 28th of March, announced the commence- 

 ment of the rainy season ; we were still advised, however, to 

 go from San Fernando de Apure by San Francisco de Capa- 

 naparo, the Rio Sinaruco, and the Hato de San Antonio, to 

 the village of the Ottomacs, recently founded near the 

 banks of the Meta, and to embark on the Orinoco a little 

 above Carichana. This way by land lies across an unhealthy 

 and feverish country. An old farmer named Francisco San- 

 chez obligingly offered to conduct us. His dress denoted 

 the great simplicity of manners prevailing in those distant 

 countries. He had acquired a fortune of more than 100,000 

 piastres, and yet he mounted on horseback with his feet bare, 

 and wearing large silver spurs. We knew by the experience 

 of several weeks the dull uniformity of the vegetation of the 

 Llanos, and preferred the longer road, which leads by the 

 Rio Apure to the Orinoco. We chose one of those very large 

 canoes called lanchas by the Spaniards. A pilot and four 

 Indians were sufficient to manage it. They constructed, 

 near the stern, in the space of a few hours, a cabin covered 

 with palm-leaves, sufficiently spacious to contain a table 

 and benches. These were made of ox-hides, strained tight, 

 and nailed to frames of brazil-wood. I mention these mi- 

 nute circumstances, to prove that our accommodations on 

 the Eio Apure were far different from those to which we 

 were afterwards reduced in the narrow boats of the Orinoco. 

 We loaded the canoe with provision for a month. Fowls, 

 frggs, plantains, cassava, and cacao, are found in abundance 



