EXCURSION TO ARAYA. 79 
though, as they were surprised to find, the thermo- 
meter was as high as 71:2°. The circumstance that 
in a warm country a degree of cold which would be 
productive of no inconvenience to the inhabitant 
of a temperate climate, excites a disagreeable feel- 
ing, is worthy of the attention of physiologists. 
When Bouguer reached the summit of Pelée, in 
the island of Martinico, he trembled with cold, al- 
though the heat was above 70°7°; and in heavy 
showers at Cumana, when the thermometer indi- 
cates the same temperature, the inhabitants make 
bitter complaints. 
About eight in the morning they landed at the 
point of Araya, near the new salt-works, which are 
situated in a plain destitute of vegetation. From 
this spot are seen the islet of Cubagua, the lofty 
hills of Margaretta, the ruins of the castle of St 
Jago, the Cerro de la Vela, and the limestone ridge 
of the Bergantin, bounding the horizon toward the 
south. Here salt is procured by digging brine-pits 
in the clayey soil, which is impregnated with mu- 
riate of soda. In 1799 and 1800, the consumption 
of this article in the provinces of Cumana and Bar- 
eelona amounted to 9000 or 10,000 /anegas, each 
16 arrobas, or 4053 lbs. avoirdupois. Of this quan- 
tity the salt-works of Araya yield only about a 
third part; the rest being obtained from sea-water 
in the Morro of Barcelona, at Pozuelos, at Piritu, 
and in the Golfo Triste. 
| 
y 
In order to understand the geological relations of 
this saliferous clay, it is necessary to follow our au- 
thor in his exposition of the nature of the neigh- 
bouring country. Three great parallel chains of 
_ mountains extend from east to west. Thetwo most 
