122 



ROAD TO CARACCAS. 



seen passing into hornblende-slate. At the foot of 

 the promontory the sea throws on the beach rolled 

 fragments of a granular mixture of hornblende and 

 felspar, in which traces of quartz and pyrites are 

 recognised. On the western declivity of that hill 

 the gneiss is covered by a recent sandstone or con- 

 glomerate, in which are observed angular fragments 

 of gneiss, quartz, and chlorite, magnetic sand, mad- 

 repores, and bivalve shells. The latitude of the 

 cape is 10° 36' 45"; that of La Guayrais 10° 36' 19", 

 its longitude 67° 5' 49". 



The road from La Guayra to Caraccas resembles 

 the passages over the Alps ; but as it is kept in tol- 

 erable repair, it requires only three hours to go with 

 mules from the port to the capital, and two hours to 

 return. The ascent commences with a ridge of 

 rocks, and is extremely laborious. Jn the steepest 

 parts the path winds in a zigzag manner. At the 

 SaltOj or Leap, there is a crevice which is passed by 

 a drawbridge, and on the summit of the mountain 

 are fortifications. Half-way is La Venta (the Inn) ; 

 beyond which there is a rise of 960 feet to Guayavo, 

 which is not far from the highest part of the route. 

 At the fort of La Cuchilla Humboldt was nearly 

 made prisoner by some Spanish soldiers, whom he 

 however contrived to pacify. Round the little inn 

 several travellers were assembled, who were dis- 

 puting on the efforts that had been made towards 

 obtaining independence ; on the hatred of the mulat- 

 toes against the free negroes and whites ; the wealth 

 of the monks ; and on the difficulty of holding 

 slaves in obedience. From Guayavo the road passes 

 over a smooth table-land covered with alpine plants ; 

 and here is seen for the first time the capital, stand- 

 ing nearly 2000 feet lower, in a beautiful valley en- 

 closed by lofty mountains. 



The ridges between La Guayra and Caraccas con- 

 sist of gneiss. On the south side the eminence, 

 which bears the name of Avila, is traversed by veins 



