PUERTO OABELLO. 



115 



waters flow to the coast at El Palito, a little west of Puerto Cabello. This 

 seaport is connected with Valencia by a railway, which at its highest point attains 

 an elevation of 1,970 feet. Accordins: to the local tradition it takes its name of 

 Puerto Cabello ("Hair Port ") from the fact that a hair would be strong enough 

 for a vessel to ride at anchor in its tranquil harbour. 



The inlet, which ramifies into three irregular basins, is almost completely 



Fig. 39. — Ptjeeto Cabello. 

 Scale 1 : 53,000. 



f^^^ ^'V'^v^fe..- 



/est or Greenwich 



67° 59- 



to 5 

 Fathoms. 



Depths. 



5 to 10 

 Fathoms. 



10 Fathoms 

 and upwards. 



11 Mile. 



enclosed by a crescent of low islands and banks, leaving only a narrow seaward 

 passage on the west from seven to nine fathoms deep. South of this passage the 

 town occupies a low coralline peninsula, formerly separated from the mainland 

 b}^ another channel, which is now dry land. The harbour is defended by two 

 forts ; but the whole district is rendered extremely malarious by the surrounding 

 marshes, shallow and stagnant waters. Dangerous fevers break out, especially 



