130 



VEGETATION AND MINERALS. 



clivity being often from 32° to 33°. The surface 

 was covered with short grass, which afforded no 

 support when laid hold of, and it was impossible to 

 imprint steps in the gneiss. The persons who had 

 accompanied them from the town were discouraged, 

 and at length retired. 



Slender streaks of mist began to issue from the 

 woods, and afforded indications of a dense fog. The 

 familiar loquacity of the negro Creoles formed a 

 striking contrast to the gravity of the Indians who 

 had attended the travellers in the missions of Caripe. 

 They amused themselves at the expense of the de- 

 serters, among whom was a young Capuchin monk, 

 a professor of mathematics, who had promised to 

 fire off rockets from the top of the mountain, to an- 

 nounce to the inhabitants of Caraccas the success 

 of the expedition. 



The eastern peak being the most elevated, they 

 directed their course to it. The depression between 

 the two summits has given rise to the name Silla, 

 which signifies a saddle. From this hollow a ravine 

 descends towards the valley of Caraccas. This nar- 

 row opening originates near the western dome, and 

 the eastern summit is accessible only by going first 

 to the westward of it, straight over the promontory 

 of the Puerta. 



From the foot of the cascade of Chacaito to an 

 elevation of 6395 feet they found only savannas or 

 pastures, among which were observed two small 

 liliaceous plants with yellow flowers and some bram- 

 bles. Mixed with the latter they expected to find a 

 wild rose, but were disappointed; nor did they sub- 

 sequently meet with a single species of that genus 

 in aliy part of South America. 



Sometimes lost in the mist, they made their way 

 with difficulty, and there being no path, they were 

 obliged to use their hands in climbing the steep and 

 slippery ascent. A vein of porcelain-clay, the re- 

 mains of decomposed felspar, attracted their atten- 



