THE IMPOSSIBLE. 37 
in the vicinity, they had a splendid view of the sea 
and part of the coast, while in the intervening space, 
the tops of the trees, intermixed with flowery lianas, 
formed a vast carpet of deep verdure. As they ad- 
vanced toward the south-west, the soil became dry 
and loose. They ascended a group of rather high 
mountains, destitute of vegetation, and having steep 
declivities. This ridge is named the Jimposszble, it 
being imagined that, in case of invasion, it might 
afford a safe retreat to the inhabitants of Cumana. 
The prospect was finer and more extensive than 
from the fountain above mentioned. 
They arrived on the summit only a little before 
dusk. The setting of the sun was accompanied bya 
very rapid diminution of temperature, the thermo- 
meter suddenly falling from 77:4° to 70°3°, although 
the air was calm. They passed the night in a 
house at which there was a military post of eight 
men, commanded by a Spanish sergeant. When, 
after the capture of Trinidad by the English in 1797, 
Cumana was threatened, many of the people fled 
to Cumanacoa, leaving the more valuable of their 
property in sheds constructed on this ridge. The so- 
litude of the place reminded Humboldt of the nights 
which he had passed on the top of St Gothard. Seve- 
ral parts of the surrounding forests were burning, and 
the reddish flames arising amidst clouds of smoke, 
presented a most impressive spectacle. The shepherds 
set fire to the woods for the purpose of improving 
the pasturage, though conflagrations are often caused 
by the negligence of the wandering Indians. The 
number of old trees on the road from Cumana to Cu- 
manacoa has been greatly reduced by these accidents ; 
and in several parts of the province the dryness has 
