ASCENT OF THE SILLA. 131 



passing through them, to enter into a transparent atmo- chap. xii. 

 sphere. They sjKjnt tlie night of the 2d January at a 

 coffee-plantation near a ravine, in wlii-ch the little river 

 Chacaito formed some fine cascades. At five in the JJepartme. 

 morning they set out, accompanied hy slaves carrying 

 their instruments, and about seven reached a promon- 

 tory of the Silla, connected with the body of the 

 mountain by a 'narrow dike. The weather was fine 

 and cool. They proceeded along this ridge of rocks, 

 between two deep valleys covered with vegetation ; the 

 large, shining, and coriaceous leaves, illumined by the 

 sun, presenting a very picturesque appearance. Beyond 

 this point the ascent became very steep, the acclivity 

 being often 82° to 33°. The surface was covered with 

 short grass, which afforded no support when laid hold of, 

 and it was impossible to imprint steps in the gneiss. 

 The persons who had accompanied them from the town 

 were discouraged, and at length retired. 



Slender streaks of mist began to issue from the woods, Creoles and 

 and afforded indications of a dense fog. The familiar I°<l"»"s- 

 loquacity of the ncgix) Creoles formed a striking contrast 

 to the gravity of the Indians who had attended the tra- 

 vellers in the missions of Caripe. They amused 

 themselves at the expense of the deserters, among whom 

 was a young Capuchin monk, a professor of mathema- 

 tics, who had promised to fire oft' rockets from the top 

 of the mountain, to announce to the inhabitants of 

 Caraccas the success of the expedition. 



The eastern peak being the most elevated, they di- Kame of 

 rected their course to it. The depression between the ^'"'^ 

 two summits has given rise to the name Silla, which 

 signifies a saddle. From this hollow a ravine descends 

 towards the valley of Caraccas. This narrow opening 

 originates near the western dome, and the eastei'n sum- 

 mit is accessible only by going first to the westward of 

 it, straight over the promontory of the Puerta. 



From the foot of the cascade of Chacaito to an eleva- Cascades of 

 tion of ti395 feet they found only savannahs or pastures, Chacaito. 



