92 CUMANACOA. 
European parents. Alexander Benedictus relates a 
similar case of an inhabitant of Syria, and other au- 
thors have given examples of the same nature. 
Returning towards Cumana, they entered the 
small town of Cumanacoa, situated in a naked and 
almost circular plain, surrounded by lofty moun- 
tains, and containing about two thousand three 
hundred inhabitants. The houses were low and 
slight, and with very few exceptions built of wood. 
The travellers were surprised to find the column of 
mercury in the barometer scarcely 7:3 lines shorter 
than on the coast. The hollow in which.the town 
is erected is not more than 665 feet above the 
level of the sea, and only seven leagues from Cu- 
mana; but the climate is much colder than in the 
latter place, where it scarcely ever rains; whereas 
at Cumanacoa there are seven months of severe 
weather. It was during the winter season that our 
travellers visited the missions. A dense fog covered 
the sky every night; the thermometer varied from 
64:8° to 68°; and Deluc’s hygrometer indicated 85°. 
At ten in the morning the thermometer did not rise 
above 69°8°, but from noon to three o’clock attained 
the height of from 78-8° to 80°6°.. About two, large 
black clouds regularly formed, and poured down 
torrents of rain, accompanied by thunder. At five 
the rain ceased, and the sun reappeared ; but at eight 
or nine the fog again commenced. In consequence of 
the humidity, the vegetation, although not very diver- 
sified, is remarkable for its freshness. The soil is high- 
ly fertile; but the most valuable production of the 
district is tobacco, the cultivation of which in the pro- 
vince of Cumana is nearly confined to this valley. 
Next to the tobacco of Cuba and the Rio Negro, 
