104 



RESIDENCE AT CUM AN A. 



larity of language, although separated to the im- 

 mense distance of eight hundred leagues. The in- 

 habitants of the north-east of Asia are evidently of 

 the same stock. Like the Malays, this hyperborean 

 nation resides only on the seacoast. They are of 

 smaller stature than the other Americans, lively and 

 loquacious. Their hair is straight and black ; but 

 their skin is originally white, in which respect they 

 essentially differ from the other class. 



The second race is dispersed over the various re- 

 gions of the continent, from the northern parts to 

 the southern extremity. They are of larger size, 

 more warlike, and more taciturn, and differ in the 

 colour of their skin. At the earliest age it has more 

 or less of a coppery tinge in most of the tribes, 

 while in others the children are fair, or nearly so ; 

 and certain tribes on the Orinoco preserve the same 

 complexion during their whole life. Humboldt is 

 of opinion that these differences in colour are but 

 slightly influenced by climate or other external cir- 

 cumstances, and endeavours to impress the idea 

 that they depend on the original constitution. 



CHAPTER X. 



Residence at Cumana. 



Residence at Cumana— Attack of a Zambo— Eclipse of the Sun- 

 Extraordinary Atmospherical Phenomena— Shocks of an Earthquake 

 — Luminous Meteors. 



Our travellers remained a month longer at Cu- 

 mana. As they had determined to make a voyage 

 on the Orinoco and Rio Negro, preparations of va- 

 rious kinds were necessary ; and the astronomical 

 determination of places being the most important 

 object of this undertaking, it was of essential advan- 



