CUMANACOA TOBACCO. 81 



The houses were low and slight, and with very few chap. vil. 

 exceptions huilt of wood. The travellers were surprised narometrical 

 to find the column of mercury in the harometer scarcely observations. 

 •3 lines shorter than on the coast. The hollow on which 

 the town is erected is not more than 6C5 feet above the 

 level of the sea, and only twenty-four miles from Cu- 

 mana ; but the climate is much colder than in the latter 

 place, where it scarcely ever rains ; whereas at Cuma- 

 nacoa there are seven months of severe weather. It 

 was during the winter season that our travellers visited 

 the missions. A dense fog covered the sky every night ; 

 the thermometer varied from 65^ to 68° ; and Deluc's 

 hygrometer indicated 85°. At ten in the morning the 

 thermometer did not rise above 69"8°, but from noon to 

 three o'clock attained the height of from 78-8° to 80-6°. 

 About two, large black clouds regularly formed, and Rain and 

 poured down torrents of rain accompanied by thunder, "^"""i^'' 

 At five the rain ceased, and the sun reappeared ; but at 

 eight or nine the fog again commenced. In consequence 

 of the humidity, the vegetation, although not very di- 

 versified, is remarkable for its freshness. The soil is 

 highly fertile ; but the most valuable production of the 

 district is tobacco, the cultivation of which in the pro- 

 vince of Cumana is nearly confined to this valley. 



Next to tlie tobacco of Cuba and the Rio Negro, that Tobacco 

 grown here is the most aromatic. The seed is sown in *^ "'^''* 

 the beginning of September, and the cotyledons appear 

 on the eighth day. The young plants are then covered 

 with large leaves to protect them from the sun. A 

 month or two after, they are transferred to a rich and 

 well-prepared soil, and disposed in rows, three or four 

 feet distant from each other. The whole is carefully 

 weeded, and the principal stalk is several times topped, 

 until the leaves are mature, when they are gathered. 

 They are then suspended by threads of the Agave Ame- 

 ricana, and their ribs taken out ; after which they are 

 twisted. The cultivation of tobacco was a royal mono- 

 poly, and employed about loOO persons. Indigo is also 

 raised in the valley of Cumanacoa. 



