EXCURSION TO SAN FERNANDO. 



73 



was nothing else than the operculum of a small 

 shellfish. 



Near Cape de la Brea, at the distance of eighty 

 feet from the shore, is a small stream of naphtha, 

 the produce of which covers the sea to a great ex- 

 tent. It is a singular circumstance that this spring 

 issues from mica-slate, all others that are known 

 belonging to secondary deposites. 



After examining the neighbourhood of Mani- 

 quarez, the adventurers embarked at night in a small 

 fishing-boat, so leaky that a person was constantly 

 employed in baling out the water with a calabash, 

 and arrived in safety at Cumana. 



CHAPTER VII. 



Missions of the Chaymas. 



Excursion to the Missions of the Chayma Indians—Remarks on Cul- 

 tivation—The Impossible— Aspect of the Vegetation— San Fernando- 

 Account of a Man who suckled a Child— Cumanacoa — Cultivation of 

 Tobacco— Igneous Exhalations— Jaguars — Mountain of Cocollar — 

 Turimiquiri— Missions of San Antonio and Guanaguana. 



On the 4th of September, at an early hour, our 

 travellers commenced an excursion to the missionary 

 stations of the Chayma Indians, and to the lofty 

 mountains which traverse New-Andalusia. The 

 morning was deliciously cool ; and from the summit 

 of the hill of San Francisco they enjoyed in the short 

 twilight an extensive view of the sea, the adjacent 

 plain, and the distant peaks. After walking two 

 hours they arrived at the foot of the chain, where 

 they found different rocks, together with a new and 

 more luxuriant vegetation. They observed that the 

 latter was more brilliant wherever the limestone was 

 G 



