201 



as the form of the rocks, that presents obstacles 

 difficult to surmount. 



The longitudinal valley, formed by the lofty 

 mountains of the interior and the southern de- 

 clivity of the Cerro de San Antonio, is traversed 

 by the Rio Manzanares. This plain, which is 

 the only thoroughly wooded part in the environs 

 of Cumana, is called the Plain des Charas*, on 

 account of the numerous plantations, which the 

 inhabitants have begun for some years past 

 along the river. A narrow path leads from the 

 hill of San Francisco across the forest to the 

 hospice of the Capuchins, a very agreeable coun- 

 try house, which the Arragonese monks have 

 built as a retreat for old infirm missionaries, who 

 can no longer fulfil the duties of their minis- 

 try. As we advance toward the west, the trees 

 of the forest become more vigorous, and we 

 meet with a few monkeys-}-, which, however, are 

 very rare in the environs of Cumana. At the 

 foot of the capparis, the bauhinia, and the zygo- 

 phyllum with flowers of a gold yellow, extend 

 a carpet of bromelia^;, akin to the b. karatas, 

 which from the odour and coolness of it's foliage 

 attracts the rattlesnake. 



The waters of the Manzanares are very limpid, 



* Chacra, by corruption chara, a hut or cottage surrounded 

 by a garden. The word ipure has the same signification, 

 t The common macki, or weeping monkey. 

 X Chihuchihue, of the family of the ananas. 



