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194 VEGETATION OF THE LLANOS. 
saw troops of small deer feeding in the midst of the 
eattle. These animals, which are called matacani, 
are a little larger than the roe of Europe, and have 
a sleek fawn-coloured pile, spotted with white. Some 
of them were entirely of the latter hue. Their flesh 
is good ; and their number is so great that a trade 
in their skins might be carried on with advantage, 
but the inhabitants are too indolent to engage in 
any active occupation. 
These steppes were principally covered with 
grasses of the genera killingia, cenchrus, and pas- 
palum, which at that season scarcely attain a height 
of nine or ten inches near Calabozo and St Jerome 
del Pirital, although on the banks of the Apure 
and Portuguesa they rise to the length of four feet. 
Along with these were mingled some turnere, mal- 
vacee, and mimose. The pastures are richest on 
the banks of the rivers, and under the shade 9° <o- 
rypha palms. These trees were singularly uniior™ i” 
size; their height being from twenty-one to twe« ‘y- 
five feet, and their diameter from eight to ten ine cs. 
The wood is very hard, and the fan-like leaves are 
used for roofing the huts scattered over the ns. 
A few clumps of a — of rhopala « occur here and 
there. 
The philosophers suffered greatly from the heat in 
crossing the Mesa de Calabozo. Whenever the wind 
blew, the temperature rose to 104° or 106°, and the 
air was loaded with dust. The guides advised them 
to fill their hats with the rhopala leaves, to prevent 
the action of the solar rays on the head, and from 
this expedient they derived considerable benefit. 
At Calabozo they experienced the most cordial 
hospitality from the administrator of the Real Ha- 
