88 DESCENT OF THE IMPOSSIBLE. 
increased, owing both to the diminution of the fo- 
rests, and the frequency of earthquakes which pro- 
duce crevices in the soil. 
Leaving the Impossible on the Sth before sunrise, 
they descended by a very narrow path bordering on 
precipices. The summit of the ridge was of quartzy 
sandstone, beneath which the Alpine limestone re- 
appeared. The strata being generally inclined to 
the south, numerous springs gush out on that side, 
and in the rainy season form torrents which fall 
in cascades, shaded by the hura, the cuspa, and the 
trumpet-tree. The cuspa, which is common in the 
neighbourhood of Cumana, had long been used for 
carpenter-work, but has of late attracted notice as a 
powerful tonic or febrifuge. 
Emerging from the ravine which opens at the foot 
of the mountain, they entered a dense forest, tra- 
versed by numerous small rivers, which were easily 
forded. They observed that the leaves of the cecro- 
pia were more or less silvery according as the soil 
was dry or marshy, and specimens occurred in which 
they were entirely green on both sides. The roots 
of these shrubs were concealed beneath tufts of dor- 
stenia, a plant which thrives only in shady and 
moist places. In the midst of the forest they found 
papaws and orange-trees bearing excellent fruit, 
which they conjectured to be the remains of some 
Indian plantations, as in these countries they are 
no more indigenous than the banana, the maize, 
the manioc, and the many other useful plants whose 
native country is unknown, although they have ac- 
companied man in his migrations from the most re- 
mote periods. 
«When a traveller newly arrived from Europe,” 
aay =~ 
. “Re ta a oe ea OR ies 
