'332 MOUNTINS OF CARACAS. 



coast recedes at the parallel 10 Of, and resumes its original 

 direction (10 37' 10 44') from the western extremity of 

 the peninsula of Araya, to the eastern extremities of Mon- 

 tana de Paria and the island of Trinidad. From this dis- 

 section of the coast, it follows that the range of mountains 

 bordering the shore of the provinces of Caracas and Barce- 

 lona, between the meridian 66 32' and 68 29', (which I saw 

 on the south of the bay of Higuerote and on the north of 

 the Llanos of Pao and Cachipo,) must be considered as the 

 continuation of the southern chain of Venezuela, and as 

 being linked 011 the west with the Sierras de Panaquire and 

 Ocumare. It may, therefore, be said that between Cape 

 Codera and Cariaco, the inland chain itself forms the coast. 

 This range of very low mountains, often interrupted from the 

 mouth of the Eio Tuy to that of the Eio Neveri, rises 

 abruptly on the east of Nueva Barcelona, first in the rocky 

 island of Chimanas, and then in the Cerro del Bergantin, 

 elevated probably more than 800 toises, but of which the 

 astronomical position and the precise height are yet alike 

 unknown. On the meridian of Cumana the northern chain 

 (that of Cape Codera and the Silla of Caracas) again appears. 

 The micaceous slate of the peninsula of Araya and Mani- 

 quarez joins by the ridge or knot of mountains of Meapire 

 the southern chain, that of Panaquire the Bergantin, Turi- 

 miquiri, Caripe, and Guacharo. This ridge, not more than 

 200 toises of absolute height, has, in the ancient revolutions 

 of our planet, prevented the irruption of the ocean, and the 

 union of the gulfs of Paria and Cariaco. On the west of 

 Cape Codera, the northern chain, composed of primitive 

 granitic rocks, presents the loftiest summits of the whole 

 Cordillera of Venezuela ; but the culminant points east of 

 that cape, are composed in the southern chain, of secondary 

 calcareous rocks. We have seen above, that the peak of 

 Turimiquiri, at the back of the Cocollar, is 1050 toises, 

 while the bottom of the high valleys of the convent of Caripe, 

 and of Guardia de San Augustin, are 412 and 533 toises of 

 absolute height. On the east of the ridge of Meapire, the 

 southern chain sinks abruptly towards the Eio Arco and the 

 Guarapiche ; but, on quitting the main land, we again see it 

 rising on the southern coast of the island of Trinidad, which 

 is but a detached portion of the continent, and of which the 



