GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION. 71 



During the prevalence of the northerly winds, from November 

 to May, a heavy surf breaks constantly along this coast, and it 

 becomes difficult and even dangerous to attempt landing, except 

 at Maraccas bay, and then only in canoes ; vessels also that 

 anchor in the bay, will often find it a hazardous task to leave 

 their anchorage, the wind being right ahead and the entrance 

 narrow. The depth of water along the northern coast varies 

 from three to twenty-five fathoms, with a good bottom. 



The eastern coast is very shallow, with a heavy surf throughout, 

 but particularly at Matura and the Cocal ; the depth of water 

 varying from three to ten fathoms. The only anchorages and 

 landing-places are at Forest Point, Cumana, three miles and a 

 half from Point Galera, and in Balandra and Salibea bays. The 

 former of these two bays is small but safe, and the water bold 

 enough to receive trading schooners and droghers ; the latter 

 hardly merits the term of bay, but a vessel might find tolerable 

 shelter within it, under cover of a small rocky island. To the S. 

 of Point Manzanilla is a small harbour, completely rock-bound, 

 with a good landing at the mouth of the Lebranche river. This 

 harbour, formed by rocky islets, is of sufficient depth for any 

 vessel not drawing more than nine feet of water ; and, although 

 very small, it is the best on the east coast, and with some little 

 improvement, would afford an available anchorage to droghers. 

 Off Point Manzanilla is a sunken rock called the Carpenter, upon 

 which a slaver struck and was wrecked in the year 1802. There 

 is also a pretty good landing place to the N. of Point Radix, at the 

 mouth of the river Guataro, called la Chaussee, a well-known 

 place for turtle. The surf, although still very heavy along the 

 sea-board of Mayaro, does not impede the landing on part of the 

 coast especially under the lee-side of Point Mayaro when proper 

 >recautions are taken, and strong boats used for the purpose. 



The southern coast is generally bluff, and the sea shallow 

 iroughout the channel, the depth of water varying from three to 

 drty-seven fathoms, with excellent bottom. From April to 

 itober during the overflow of the mighty river Orinoco, which 

 charges part of its waters into the channel strong currents 

 ;vail, bearing westward. Besides the following landing places, 

 iz. : Moruga, Erin, and Quemada there is, on this coast, the 

 lall port of Guayaguayare, at the S.E. extremity of the southern 

 ;, between Galeota and Grand Cayo, or Pointe Taillee. This 



