POPULATION. 



147 



found the different diameters 205 and 198 feet. One 

 side of the tree was entirely stripped of leaves from 

 the effect of drought, while on the other both foliage 

 and flowers remained. The branches were covered 

 with creeping-plants. The inhabitants of these val- 

 leys, and especially the Indians, have a great vene- 

 ration for the Guayra zamang, which the first con- 

 querors seem to have found nearly in the same state 

 as that in which we now see it. Since it has been 

 attentively observed, no change has been noticed in 

 its size or form. It must be at least as old as the 

 dragon-tree of Orotava. Near Turmero and the 

 Hacienda de Cura, there are other trees of the same 

 species, with larger trunks ; but their hemispherical 

 tops do not spread so widely." 



The valleys of Aragua at this time contained 

 more than 52,000 inhabitants, on a space thirteen 

 leagues in length and two in breadth : making 2000 

 to a square league, which is almost equal to the 

 densest population of France. The houses were all 

 of masonry, and every court contained cocoa-trees, 

 rising above the habitations ; besides wheat, sugar, 

 cacao, cotton, and coffee, indigo is cultivated to a 

 great extent. 



In this district the travellers experienced the 

 greatest kindness, more especially from the persons 

 with whom they had associated in Caraccas, and 

 who possessed large estates in these highly-improved 

 and beautiful plains. At the Hacienda de Cura they 

 spent seven very agreeable days in a small habita- 

 tion surrounded by thickets, on the Lake of Valen- 

 cia. Their host, Count Tovar, had begun to let out 

 lands to poor persons, with the view of rendering 

 slaves less necessary to the landholders ; and his 

 example was happily followed by other proprietors. 

 Here they lived after the manner of the rich ; they 

 bathed twice, slept three times, and made three 

 meals in twenty-four hours. 



The valleys of Aragua form a narrow basin be- 



