ee 
MESA DE PAVONES. ~ 201 
On the 25th March they passed over the smooth- 
est part of the steppes of Caraccas, the Mesa de Pa- 
vones. As far as the eye could reach, no object 
fifteen inches high could be discovered excepting 
cattle, of which they met some large herds accom- 
panied by flocks of the crotophaga ani, a bird of a 
black ‘colour with olive reflections. They were 
exceedingly tame, and perched upon the quadrupeds 
in search of insects. 
Wherever excavations had been made, they found 
the rock to be old red sandstone or conglomerate, in 
which were observed fragments of quartz, kiesel- 
schiefer, and lydian stone. The cementing clay is 
ferruginous, and often of a very bright red. This 
formation, which covers an extent of several thou- 
sand square leagues, rests on the northern margin 
of the plains upon transition-slate, and to the south 
upon the granites of the Orinoco. 
After wandering a long time on the desert and 
pathless savannahs of the Mesa de Pavones, they 
were agreeably surprised to find a solitary farm-house 
surrounded with gardens and pools of clear water. 
Farther on they passed the night near the village 
of San Geronymo del Guyaval, situated on the 
banks of the Rio Guarico, which joins the Apure. 
The ecclesiastic, who was a young man, and had no 
other habitation than his church, received them in 
the kindest manner. Crossing the Guarico they en- 
camped in the plain, and early in the morning pur- 
sued their way over low grounds which are often 
inundated. On the 27th they arrived at the Villa 
de San Fernando, and terminated their journey 
over the Llanos. | 
