512 DISTANT VIEW OF THE LLAITOS. 



on the bank opposite Capuchino, these observations were 

 important for determining the rate of my chronometer, au'Ji 

 connecting the situations on the Orinoco with those on the 

 shore of Venezuela. The situation of this farm, being at the 

 point where the Orinoco changes its course, (which had pre- 

 viously been from south to north,) and runs from west to east, 

 is extremely picturesque. Granite rocks rise like islets amidst 

 vast meadows. From their tops we discerned towards the 

 north the Llanos of Calabozo bounding the horizon. We 

 had been so long accustomed to the aspect of forests, that 

 this view made a powerful impression on us. The steppes 

 after sunset assume a tint of greenish gray. The visual ray 

 being intercepted only by the rotundity of the earth, the 

 stars seemed to rise as from the bosom of the ocean, and the 

 most experienced mariner would have fancied himself placed 

 on a projecting cape of a rocky coast. Our host was a 

 Frenchman, who lived amidst his numerous herds. Though 

 he had forgotten his native language, he seemed pleased to 

 learn that we came from his country, which he had left forty 

 years before ; and he wished to retain us for some days at 

 his farm. The small towns of Caycara and Cabruta were 

 only a few miles distant from the farm ; but during part of 

 the year our host was in complete solitude. The Capuchino 

 becomes an island by the inundations of the Apure and the 

 Orinoco, and the communication with the neighbouring 

 farms can be kept up only by means of a boat. The horned 

 cattle then seek the higher grounds which extend on the 

 south toward the chain of the mountains of Encaramada. 

 This granitic chain is intersected by vallies, which contain 

 magnetic sands (granulary oxidulated iron), owing no doubt 

 to the decomposition of some amphibolic or chloritic 

 strata. 



On the morning of the 9th of June we met a great number 

 of boats laden with merchandize sailing up the Orinoco, in 

 order to enter the Apure. This is a commercial road much 

 frequented between Angostura and the port of Torunos in 

 the province of of Varinas. Our fellow-traveller. Don 

 Nicolas Soto, brother in law of the governor of Varinas, 

 took the same course, to return to his family. At the 



the eastern bank of the Orinoco), the latitude 7 37' 45", the longitude 

 69 5' 30'. 



