MKSA DK PAVONES. 17.3 



morning by a violent shaking, accompanied with a chap. xv. 

 liorrible noise. Presently an alligator two or three ^- T~ 

 feet long issued from under the l)ed, and darted at a dog iucideut 

 lying on the threshold, but missing him ran toward the 

 river. When the spot where the bench stood was 

 examined, the dried mud was found turned up to a con- 

 siderable depth, Avhere the alligator had lain in its state 

 of torpidity or summer sleep. The hut being situated 

 on the edge of a pool, and inundated during part of the 

 year, the animal had no doubt entered at that period 

 and concealed itself in the mire. The Indians often 

 find enormous boas, or water-serpents, in the same 

 lethargic state. 



On the 25th March they passed over the smoothest The Mesa de 

 part of the steppes of Caraccas, the Mesa dc Pavones. '■'^™''<^s. 

 As far as the eye could reach, no object fifteen inches 

 high could be discovered excepting cattle, of which they 

 met some large herds accompanied by flocks of the 

 crotophaga ani, a bird of a black colour with olive 

 reflections. They were exceedingly tame, and perched 

 upon the quadrupeds in search of insects. 



Wherever excavations had been made, they found the ^ogts. 

 rock to be old red sandstone or conglomerate, in which 

 were observed fragments of quartz, kieselschiefer, and 

 lydian stone. The cementing clay is feiTuginous, and 

 often of a very bright red. This formation, which 

 covers an extent of several thousand square leagues, 

 rests on the northern margin of the plains upon transi- 

 tion-slate, and to the south upon the granites of the 

 Orinoco. 



After wandering a long time on the desert and path- farm-houso 

 less savannahs of the IMesa de Pavones, they were agree- and -siUage. 

 ably surprised to find a solitary farm-house surrounded 

 with gardens and pools of clear water. Farther on they 

 passed the night near the village of San Geronymo del 

 Guyaval, situated on the banks of the Rio Guarico, 

 which joins the Apure. The ecclesiastic, who was a 

 young man, and had no other habitation than his 



