CAIINIVAL. ]')'] 



early childhood, and such is the source of the astonish- chap. XIV. 



uicnt with which w-e are seized on first seeing the cow- c ~ — 

 TLr , p ~ . " surprise 



tree. Magnificent forests, majestic nvers, and lofty excited by 

 mountains clad in perennial snows, are not the ohjects trc& °^" 

 which we here admire, A few drops of a vegetable 

 fluid impress us with an idea of the power and fecundity 

 of nature. On the parched side of a rock grows a tree 

 with dry and leathery foliage, its large woody roots 

 scarcely penetrating into the ground. For several 

 months in the year its leaves are not moistened by a 

 shower ; its branches look as if they were dead and 

 withered ; but when the trunk is bored, a bland and 

 nourishing milk flows from it. It is at sunrise that the 

 vegetable fountain flows most freely. At that time the 

 blacks and natives are seen coming from all parts, pro- 

 vided with large bowls to receive the milk, which 

 grows yellow and thickens at its surface. Some empty 

 their vessels on the spot, while others carry them to 

 their children. One imagines he sees the family of a 

 shepherd who is distributing the milk of his flock." 



The travellers had resolved to visit the eastern extre- chance of 

 mity of the cordilleras of New Grenada, where they end piaus. 

 in the Paramos of Timotes and Niquitas ; but learning 

 at Barbula that this excursion would retard their arrival 

 at the Orinoco thirty-five days, they judged it prudent 

 to relinquish it, lest they should fail in the real object 

 of their journey, — that of ascertaining by astronomical 

 observations the point at which the Rio Negro and the 

 River of Amazons communicate with the former stream. 

 They therefore returned to Guacara, to take leave of the y^^^^^j^ ^^ 

 family of the Marquis del Toro, and pass three days Guacara. 

 more on the shores of the Lake of Valencia. It happened 

 to be the time of carnival, and all was gayety. The 

 games in which the common people indulged were oc- 

 casionally not of the most pleasant kind. Some led 

 about an ass laden with water, with which they sprinkled 

 the apartments wherever they found an open window ; 

 while others, carrying bags full of the hairs of the 



