128 



CLIMATE OF CARACCAS. 



CHAP. XII. 



rnundation 

 uf Caraccas. 



Scenery. 



the sea. The ground occupied by it is a steep uneven 

 slope. It was founded by Diego de Losada in 1507. 

 Three small rivers descending from the mountains 

 traverse the line of its direction ; it contained eight 

 churches, five convents, and a tlieatre capable of holding 

 1500 or 1800 persons. The streets were wide, and 

 crossed each other at right angles ; the houses spacious 

 and loi'ty. 



The small extent of the valley, and the proximity of 

 the mountains of Avila and the Silla, give a stern and 

 gloomy character to the scenery, particularly in Novem- 

 ber and December, when the vapours accumulate towards 

 evening along the liigh grounds ; in June and July, 

 however, the atmosphere is clear, and the air pure and 

 delicious. Tlie two rounded summits of the latter are 

 seen from Caraccas, nearly under the same angle of ele- 

 vation as the Peak of TenerifFe is observed from Orotava. 

 The first half of the ascent is covered with grass ; then 

 succeeds a zone of evergreen trees ; while above this the 

 rocky masses rise in the form of domes destitute of 

 vegetation. The cultivated region below forms an 

 agreeable contrast to the sombre aspect of the towering 

 ridges which overhang the town, as well as of the liills 

 to the north. 



The climate of Caraccas is a perpetual spring, the 

 temperature by day being between 68° and 79°, and by 

 night between G0° and 04°. It is, however, liable to 

 great variations, and the inhabitants complain of having 

 several seasons in twenty-four hours, as well as a too 

 rapid transition from one to another. In January, for 

 example, a night of which the mean heat does not ex- 

 ceed 60" is followed by a day in which the thermometer 

 rises above 71° in the shade. Although in our mild 

 climates oscillations of this kind produce no disagreeable 

 effects, yet in the torrid zone Europeans themselves are 

 so accustomed to uniformity in the temperature, that a 

 difference of a few degrees is productive of unpleasant 

 sensations. This inconvenience is aggravated here by 

 the nosition of the town in a narrow valley, which is at 



