M I "' " n I '» 1 HE MOl m HNS. 



ii their journey. <>n accounl of the extreme diffi- 

 culties of tin- road, they had been advised to reduce their 

 bagj to a very small bulk. Two beasts of burden 

 were Bufficienl to carry their provision, their instruments, 

 and the paper necessary to dry their plants. The morn- 

 deliciously cooL The road, which led to Cuma- 

 nacoa, ran along the ri,L r lit bank of the Aianzanares, pass- 

 ing by the hospital of the Capuchins. On leaving Cu- 

 mana they enjoyed during the Bhoii duration of the twi- 



bt, tVoin the top of the hill of San Francisco, an 

 extensive view over the sea, the plain covered with 

 >lden Bowers, and the mountains of the Brigantine. 



After walking two hours, they arrived at the foot of 

 the high chain of the interior mountains, which stretched 

 from east lowest: from the Brigantine to the Cerro de 

 San Lorenzo. There, new rocks appeared, and with 

 them another aspect of vegetation. Every object as- 

 Burned a more majestic and picturesque character. The 



!, watered by springs, was furrowed in every direction; 

 trees of gigantic height, covered with lianas, rose from 

 the ravines; their bark, black and burnt by the double 



action of the light and the oxygen of the atmosphere, 

 tntrasted with the fresh verdure of the pothos and dra- 

 :itium, the tough and shining leaves of which were 

 letimes Beveral feel long. 



Prom the top of a hill of sandstone, they had a mag- 

 nifioent view of the a a. of Cape Macanao, and the pen- 

 insula of ftfaniquarez. At their feet an immense forest 

 i (tended to the edge of the ocean. The tops of the trees, 

 intertwined with lianas, and crowned with long wreaths 

 of flowers, formed a vast carpel of verdure, the dark tint 

 of which augmented the splendour of the aerial light. 



