202 



and happily it has no resemblance whatever to 

 the Manzanares of Madrid, which appears the 

 narrower from the contrast of the sumptuous 

 bridge by which it is crossed. It takes it's 

 source, like all the rivers of New Andalusia, 

 in a part of the savannahs (llanos) known by 

 the names of the plateaux of Jonoro, Amana^ 

 and Guanipa *, which receives, near the Indian 

 village of San Fernando, the waters of the Rio 

 Juanillo. It has been several times proposed to 

 the government, but always without success, to 

 construct a dyke at the first Ipure, in order to 

 form artificial irrigations in the plain of Charas; 

 because, notwithstanding it's apparent sterility, 

 the soil is extremely productive, wherever humi- 

 dity is joined to the heat of the climate. The 

 cultivators, who are but in narrow circumstances 

 at Cumana, were gradually to refund the money 

 advanced for the construction of the sluices. 

 Meanwhile Persian wheels, pumps worked by 

 mules, and other hydraulic but imperfect ma- 

 chines, have been erected, to serve till this pro- 

 ject is carried into execution. 



The banks of the Manzanares are very plea- 

 sant, and shadowed by mimosas, erythrinas cei- 

 bas, and other trees of gigantic growth. A ri- 



* These three eminences bear the names of Alesas, tables. - 

 An immense plain has an almost imperceptible rise from 

 both sides to the middle, without any appearance of moun- 

 tains or hills. 



