70 



SALT-WORKS OF ARAYA. 



only rainwater, crystallized and very pure muriate 

 of soda forms, after great droughts, in masses of 

 large size. The new salt-works of Araya have five 

 very extensive reservoirs with a depth of eight 

 inches, and are supplied partly with seawater and 

 partly with rain. The evaporation is so rapid that 

 salt is collected in eighteen or twenty days after 

 they are filled ; and it is freer from earthy muriates 

 and sulphates than that of Europe, although manu- 

 factured with less care. 



After examining these works, they departed at 

 the decline of day, and proceeded towards an Indian 

 cabin some miles distant. Night overtook them in 

 a narrow path between a range of perpendicular 

 rocks and the sea. Arriving at the foot of the old 

 castle of Araya, which stands on a bare and arid 

 mountain, and is crowned with agave, columnar 

 cactus, and prickly mimosas, they were desirous of 

 stopping to admire the majestic spectacle, and ob- 

 serve the setting of the planet Venus ; but their 

 guide, who was parched with thirst, earnestly urged 

 them to return, and hoped to work on their fears by 

 continually warning them of jaguars and rattle- 

 snakes. They at length yielded to his solicitations'; 

 but after proceeding three-quarters of an hour along 

 a shore covered by the tide they were joined by the 

 negro that carried their provisions, who led them 

 through a wood of nopals to the hut of an Indian, 

 where they were received with cordial hospitality. 

 The several classes of natives in this district live by 

 catching fish, part of which they carry to Cumana. 

 The wealth of the inhabitants consists chiefly of 

 goats, which are of a very large size, and brownish- 

 yellow colour. They are marked like the mules, 

 and roam at large. 



Among the mulattoes, whose hovels surrounded 

 the salt-lake near which they had passed the night, 

 they found an indigent Spanish cobbler, who received 

 them with an air of gravity and importance. After 



