LA VALLE. 27 



their country, where he expected to join them soon. The 

 tidings of his death and burial, carried by the departing 

 steamer, were the only greeting for the waiting ones. 



Among the many places of interest in the vicinity of 

 Caracas, that will repay a visit, is La Valle, half a league 

 south of the capital. Leaving the city by the route 

 which leads to the plains of Ocumare, the traveller 

 crosses the Rio Guaira, and ascends a gentle slope, 

 Vv'hich brings him to the summit of a low range of hills. 

 This road passes over the ridge by a deep cut, made 

 through the soft micaceous rock, rendering the ascent an 

 easy one. Emerging from this gorge, there opens before 

 the observer a most fertile plain, presenting a beautiful 

 picture of waving grass and cultivated fields, dotted here 

 and there with haciendas and hamlets, nestled beneath the 

 shade of graceful palms. The posada and few houses 

 which bear the name of La Valle lie just a little distant 

 from where the traveller catches his first glimpse of the 

 valley. Botanical and zoological attractions led us to 

 make several excursions to this picturesque sj^ot, from 

 which we always I'eturned richly laden with collections. 



The ascent of Silla promised excitement enough to 

 awaken a strong desire in lis for a climb to its summit ; 

 but the continuous rains which prevailed during our stay 

 at Caracas, rendered impracticable the scaling of the steep, 

 slipj^ery heights of the mountain. But the accessible 

 slope directly under Cerro de Avila, clothed with magueys 

 and cactuses, and traversed by the wooded ravine of the 

 Catuche, was a most interesting spot, especially to the 

 naturalist ; accordingly we planned a trip there. Follow- 

 ing up the river, the ascent was easy to the Toma de Agua, 

 a large reservoir from which the city receives its supply 

 of water. From here the gorge was deeper, and more 

 densely wooded, and we advanced with greater difficulty. 

 Tlie trees attained no great size, yet some of the smaller 



