'250 



HOT SPRINGS — CUOCODILES. 



Jlomitain 

 chain. 



CHAP. XX. at Barcelona, where they found their friend Juan 

 — Gonzales, who, having resolved to go to Europe, meant 

 to accompany them as far as Cuba. 



At the distance of seven miles to the south-east of 

 New Barcelona rises a chain of lofty mountains con- 

 ntcted with the Cerro del Bergantin, which is seen 

 from Cumana. When Humboldt's health was suffi- 

 ciently restored, the travellers made an excursion in 

 that direction, for the purpose of examining the hot 

 sja-ines in the neighbourhood. These are impregnated 

 with sulphuretted hydrogen, and issue from a quartzose 

 sandstone, lying on a compact limestone resembling that 

 of Jura. The temperature of the water was 109"8°. 

 Their host had lent them his finest saddle-horses, warn- 

 ing them at the same time not to ford the little river of 

 Narigual, which is infested with crocodiles. They 

 passed over by a kind of bridge formed of the trunks of 

 trees, and made their animals swim, liolding them by 

 the bridles. Humboldt's suddenly disappeared, and the 

 guides conjectured that it had been seized by the 

 caymans. 



The crocodiles of the Rio Neveri are numerous, but 

 less ferocious than those of the Orinoco. The people of 

 New Barcelona convey wood to market, by floating the 

 logs on the river, while the proprietors swim here and 

 there to set them loose when they are stopped by the 

 hanks. This could not be done in most of the South 

 American rivers infested by those animals. There is ni) 

 Indian suburb as at Cumana, and the few natives seen 

 lU the town are from the neighbouring missions, or 

 mliabitants of huts scattered in the plain. They are of 

 i mixed race, indolent, and addicted to drinking. 



The packet-boats from Corunna to Havannah and 

 Mexico liad been due three months, so that they were 

 supposed to liave been taken by the English cruisers ; 

 when our travellers, anxious to reach Cumana, in order 

 to avail themselves of the first opportunity for Vera 

 Cruz, hired an oi)en vessel. It was laden with cacao, 

 and carried on a contraband trade with the island of 



i:io Neven 



Detentinn 

 I if packtt- 

 Voats. 



