110 DEPARTURE FROM CUM ANA. 



the equinoctial regions than in the temperate zone, 

 and also that they occurred oftener over continents 

 and near certain coasts than on the ocean. He 

 states, that on the platform of the Andes, there was 

 observed, upwards of forty years ago, a phenom- 

 enon similar to that related above as having oc- 

 curred at Cumana. From the city of Quito an im- 

 mense number of meteors was seen rising over the 

 volcano of Cayambo, insomuch that the whole 

 mountain was thought to be on fire. They con- 

 tinued more than an hour, and a religious procession 

 was about to be commenced, when the true nature 

 of the luminous appearance was discovered. 



CHAPTER XL 



Voyage from Cumana to Guayra. 



Passage from Cumana to La Guayra— Phosphorescence of the Sea- 

 Group of the Caraccas and Chimanas— Port of New-Barcelona— La 

 Guayra— Yellow Fever — Coast and Cape Blanco — Road from La 

 Guayra to Caraccas. 



Having completed the partial investigations which 

 their short residence admitted, and having in some 

 measure become acclimatized, the adventurous phi- 

 losophers prepared to leave Cumana. Passing by 

 sea to La Guayra, they intended to take up their 

 abode in the town of Caraccas until the rainy season 

 should be over ; from thence to traverse the Llanos, 

 or great plains, to the missions of the Orinoco ; to 

 go up that river as far as the Rio Negro ; and to re- 

 turn to Cumana by Angostura, the capital of Spanish 

 Guiana. 



On the 16th November, at eight in the evening, 

 they took their passage in one of the boats which 

 trade between these coasts and the West India 



