22 EXCUKSIONS ABOUT CAKACAS. 



everywhere within the tropics, for in certain localities 

 various causes tend to modify essentially the tropical sea- 

 sons, which in sections often not far separated, but per- 

 haps upon opposite sides of mountain-ranges, are frequently 

 the reverse of each other. 



Late in the afternoon we reached Petare, a town of 

 four or five thousand inhabitants ; and it being still a 

 league farther to Encantado, over an unfrequented road, 

 requiring a guide that could not be had until morning, 

 we determined to spend the night here. After consider- 

 able difficulty we at length found a house labelled "Po- 

 sada," where accommodations were oifered us. While din- 

 ner was preparing, which was promised luego (presently), 

 we strolled about, making a general inspection of the 

 establishment. In the largest apartment, and in real- 

 ity the only respectable one, was a billiard-table, which 

 seemed the centre of attraction to a crowd of men and 

 boys, among whom was an Englishman, who was wander- 

 ing about the world with apparently no fixed object, and 

 had happened into this out-of-the-way place. He was 

 not inclined to give much of his history, leaving us to 

 draw our own inferences. There was also a young Span- 

 iard of quite an intelligent and prepossessing appearance, 

 who, learning we were Americans, brought us a copy of 

 an old English book of poetry, and repeated from it long 

 sections that he had memorized, but of the meaning of 

 which he had not the vaguest conception. He informed 

 us that he Avas desirous of acquiring the English lan- 

 guage ; and for that purpose he v/as committing to memo- 

 ry the contents of the volume. He said that he found the 

 task an exceedingly difficult one, and that he had as yet 

 made no very satisfactory jjrogress. We did not doubt 

 the truth of his statement. He, however, seemed confi- 

 dent of ultimate success, and expressed a desire to obtain 

 from us other Englisli books, that he might prosecute his 



