13 



THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



requires several hours to make the passage. The latter 

 city is the capital of the province, and is situated on the 

 slope of a mountain, and in fact rests in a valley formed 

 by the mountain you cross in going to it, and another 

 higher mountain south a few miles, the towering summits 

 of which, during a clear atmosphere, form a beautiful 

 prospect, and seem to overhang the city. This mountain 

 is called the Silla, and is the north-eastern termination 

 of the great range of the Andes, and rises to the height of 

 about 9000 feet above the sea. 



"During the few months I remained at Caraccas, it 

 was proposed by one of my friends that I should join him 

 in an excursion to this mountain, not only to behold the 

 beautiful scenery, which an ascent would unfold to view, 

 but spend a few days to range the table lands and promon- 

 tories in hunting some of the wild animals known to abide 

 in that region. Accordingly we made every preparation 

 necessary for the occasion, and, accompanied by a guide, 

 we departed on the appointed day towards the summit of 

 the Silla. We had arranged matters so, that by starting 

 at sunrise, we should be able to make a tolerable ascent 

 before night, and on the next day, if not able to reach the 

 summit of the mountain, go at least to the boundary of 

 vegetation and back again to our resting place before the 

 evening. 



" Born in the wild and mountainous regions of my awn 

 happy land, I had learned from childhood, to scale the 

 rugged sides of the green hills in Vermont, (my native 

 state,) and wend the toilsome way after game, as often in 

 fruitless as successful pursuit, the characteristic features of 

 those highlands having made hunting a necessary part in 

 the life of every resident there. It was, therefore, not 

 without peculiar sensations of pleasure, that an occasion 

 was presented to vary the scene of action, especially as it 

 was so eminently calculated to recal to mind the incidents 

 I had so often experienced at home. 



4< My companion was one whose friendship I had tested, 

 and whose energies were unabating, and to whom I had 

 formed a sincere, attachment, which became mutual, and 

 strengthened by absence from, home and a residence among 

 strangers; and in the enjoyment of these social ties, we 

 passed much of our time together, without mixing with 

 the heterogeneous inhabitants of Caraccas. 



'-'■The day was remarkably fine, and by three o?clock, 

 P. M. found we had made great progress- in our ascent, 

 although we had overcome many difficult passages over 

 rocks, across savannas, and through almost impenetrable 

 vegetation; we therefore resolved on halting for half an 

 hour, previous to another and last attempt for that day. 

 We then pursued our course with a view to reach a spot, 

 known as a resting place at night for travellers. In this 



we succeeded about seven o'clock, and made preparations 

 to remain for the night. Our intention was to complete, 

 if possible, the ascent of the mountain, without deviating 

 from a direct course, and spend no time in hunting until 

 after we had descended nearer the base of the mountain; 

 but on the above evening we had reached our goal at an' 

 earlier period than we had anticipated; and being enticed 

 by a neighbouring promontory, we determined to reach 

 its summit, and take a survey of the surrounding coun- 

 try. We therefore buckled on our accoutrements, shoul- 

 dered our guns, and with our guide directed our footsteps 

 successfully to this elevated spot. 



" The sun had sunk behind the great western mountains, 

 and we could see his traces no where but by the golden 

 tinges of a few flying clouds. Mildness and serenity 

 reigned throughout the vast expanse which lay beneath 

 our feet, and no living creature animated the scene but a 

 few king-vultures, which were hovering around and over 

 us. We sat musing, wrapt up as we were by the grandeur 

 of the scenery, which to the east was bounded only by the 

 distant horizon of the sea, while we computed our eleva- 

 tion at upwards of six thousand feet. My companion's 

 feelings were completely in unison with mine; but our 

 more thoughtless guide found pleasure only in searching 

 the sides of the mountain for a number of small smooth 

 stones. At this interesting period, our attention was at- 

 tracted by an animal that had just emerged from a thicket 

 close to our left, and seemed totally unconscious of the 

 presence of an enemy. It was a small deer, (Cervus 

 31exicanus,) and was browsing on the variety of herbs, 

 which grew in great abundance, and might properly be 

 called Alpine plants. The eyes of my companion and 

 mine met at the same moment; and with smiles expressive 

 of surprise at the new visitor, we hesitated to commit any 

 violence, so little were we prepared in our feelings to effect 

 its death. Poor littte innocent! — it had perhaps just risen 

 from its lair, on the approach of twilight, to satisfy the 

 cravings of appetite, and enjoy the bounteous repast which 

 nature had spread before it, unconscious of attending dan- 

 ger. In a moment, however, it was stricken to the earth 

 by a tiger, or juguar, which no doubt had been so intent 

 on its prey as to be unheedful of every thing- else. We 

 instantly rose from our seats, and discharged our gans 

 simultaneously at the monster, and killed it. 



" Our guide, whose attention was attracted by the ani- 

 mal as it sprung on its victim, and by the victorious growl 

 in securing it, had become so panic struek, that he did not 

 notice the report of our guns, but sunk on his knees and 

 crossing himself, offered up constant ejaculations, address- 

 ing himself sometimes in these terms — ' Oh! holy virgin, 

 why have you permitted me to be led by these h&reties 



