HOT SPRINGS OF LA TRINCHERA. 153 



lencia. These fountains were so copious as to form 

 a rivulet, which, during the greatest droughts, was 

 two feet deep and eighteen wide. The temperature 

 of the water was 191'5°. Eggs immersed in them 

 were boiled in less than four minutes. They issued 

 from granite, and were strongly impregnated with 

 sulphuretted hydrogen. A sediment of carbonate 

 of lime was deposited, and the most luxuriant vege- 

 tation surrounded the basin, — mimosas, clusias, and 

 fig-trees, pushing their roots into the water, and ex- 

 tending their branches over it. Forty feet distant 

 from these remarkable sources there arose others 

 which were of the ordinary temperature. Hum- 

 boldt remarks, that in all climates people show the 

 same predilection for heat. In Iceland the first 

 Christian converts would be baptized only in the 

 tepid streams of Hecla ; and in the torrid zone, the 

 natives flock from aU parts to the thermal waters. 

 The river which is formed by the fountains of La 

 Trinchera runs towards the north-east, and near the 

 coast expands to a considerable size. 



Descending towards Porto Cabello, the travellers 

 passed through a very picturesque district, beauti- 

 fied by a most luxuriant vegetation and numerous 

 cascades. A stratified coarse-grained granite oc- 

 curred near the road. The heat became suffocating 

 as they approached the coast, and a reddish vapour 

 veiled the horizon. In the evening they reached the 

 town, where they were kindly received by a French 

 physician, M. Juliac, whose house contained an in- 

 teresting collection of zoological subjects. This 

 gentleman was principal surgeon to the royal hospi- 

 tal, and was celebrated for his profound acquaintance 

 with the yellow fever. He stated, that when he had 

 treated his patients by bleeding, aperients, and acid 

 drinks, in hospitals where the sick were crowded, 

 the mortality was 33 in 100 among the white Creoles, 

 and 65 in 100 among recently-disembarked Eu- 

 ropeans ; but that since a stimulating treatment, and 



