NUEVA BARCELONA. 193 



by the winds of sand, which occasioned painful chaps in 

 the skin. 



The climate of Barcelona was not so hot as that of 

 Cumana, but it was extremely damp, and somewhat un- 

 healthy in the rainy season. Bonpland had borne very 

 well the irksome journey across the Llanos, and had 

 recovered his strength and activity ; but Humboldt suf- 

 fered more at Barcelona than at Angostura, immediately 

 after their passage on the rivers. They remained nearly 

 a month at Barcelona, where they found their friend Fray 

 Juan Gronzales, who had traversed the Upper Orinoco 

 before them. He expressed regret that they had not 

 been able to prolong their visit to that unknown coun- 

 try ; and he examined their plants and animals with that 

 interest which must be felt by even the most uninformed 

 man for the productions of a region he has long since 

 visited. Fray Juan had resolved to go to Europe, and to 

 accompany them as far as the island of Cuba. They 

 were together for the space of seven months, and they 

 found his society agreeable : he was cheerful, intelligent, 

 and obliging. Little did they anticipate the sad fate that 

 awaited him. He took charge of a part of their collec- 

 tions; and a friend of his own confided to his care a 

 child, who was to be conveyed to Spain for its education. 

 Alas ! the collection, the child, and the young ecclesias- 

 tic, were all buried in the waves. 



The packet boats from Corunna bound for Havanna 

 and Mexico had been due three months ; and it was be- 

 lieved they had been taken by the English cruisers sta- 

 tioned on this coast. Anxious to reach Cumana, in 

 order to avail themselves of the first opportunity that 

 might offer for their passage to Yera Cruz, the travel- 



9 



