45 



of an armadillo* the fruit of the calabash tree, 

 crescentia cujete, used as a cup by the natives, 

 the productions most common in the cabinets of 

 Europe, had a peculiar charm for us, because 

 they reminded us, that, having reached the tor- 

 rid zone, we had attained the end toward which 

 our wishes had been so long directed. 



The master of one of the canoes offered to 

 remain on board the Pizarro as coasting pilot-j-. 

 He was a Guayqueria of an excellent disposi- 

 tion, sagacious in his observations, and led by 

 an unceasing curiosity to notice the productions 

 of the sea, as well as the plants of the country. 

 By a fortunate chance, the first Indian we met 

 on our arrival was the man, whose acquaintance 

 became the most useful to us in the course of 

 our researches. I feel a pleasure in recording 

 in this itinerary the name of Carlos del Pino, 

 who, during the space of sixteen months, attend- 

 ed us in our course along the coasts, and into 

 the inland country. 



The captain of the corvette weighed anchor 

 toward the evening. Before we left the shoal or 

 placer of Coche, I ascertained the longitude of 

 the east cape of the island, which I found to be 

 66° ir 53". As we steered toward the west, we 

 soon came in sight of the little island of Cubagua, 

 now entirely deserted, but formerly celebrated 



* Dasypus, cackicamo. 

 f Practico. 



z 2 



