MP'-, \ • . 4 , 



SIERRA DE LOS TAGERES. 83 



that vaulted in the air, and the constellations which 

 shone in the south seemed to tell us that we were 

 far from our native land. In the midst of this exotic 

 nature, when the bell of a cow, or the lowing of a 

 bull was heard from the bottom of a valley, the re- 

 membrance of our country was suddenly awakened 

 by the sounds. They were like distant voices, that 

 came from beyond the ocean, and by the magic of 

 which we were transported from the one hemi- 

 sphere to the other. Strange mobility of the human 

 imagination, the never-failing source of our enjoy- 

 ments and griefs !" 



In the cool of the morning they commenced the 

 ascent of Turimiquiri, the summit of the Cocollar, 

 which, with the Brigantine, forms a mass of moun- 

 tains, formerly named by the natives the Sierra de 

 los Tageres. They travelled part of the way on 

 horses, which are left to roam at large in these 

 wilds, though some of them have been trained to the 

 saddle. Stopping at a spring which issued from a 

 bed of quartzy sandstone, they found its tempera- 

 ture to be 69*8°. To the height of 4476 feet, this 

 mountain, like those in its vicinity, was covered 

 with gramineous plants. The pastures became less 

 rich in proportion to the elevation, and wherever the 

 scattered rocks afforded a shade lichens and mosses 

 occurred. The summit is 4521 feet above the level 

 of the sea. The view from it was extensive and 

 highly picturesque: chains of mountains running 

 from east to west enclosed longitudinal valleys, 

 which were intersected at right angles by number- 

 less ravines. The distant peninsula of Araya formed 

 a dark streak on a glittering sea, and the more dis- 

 tant rocks of Cape Macanao rose amid the waters 

 like an immense rampart. 



On the 14th September, they descended the Co- 

 collar in the direction of San Antonio, where was 

 also a mission. After passing over savannas strewed 

 with blocks of limestone, succeeded by a dense 



