232 



CHAPTER V. 



Peninsula of Araya. — Salt-Marshes- Ruim of 

 the Castle of San Giacomo. 



The first weeks of our abode at Cumana were 

 employed in verifying our instruments, in herba- 

 lizing in the neighbouring fields, and in exa- 

 mining the traces of the earthquake of the 14th 

 of December, 1797. Overpowered at once by 

 a great number of objects, we were somewhat 

 embarrassed to lay down a regular plan of study 

 and observation. If every thing around us was 

 fitted to inspire us with the most lively interest, 

 our physical and astronomical instruments in 

 their turns excited strongly the curiosity of the 

 inhabitants. We were distracted by frequent 

 visits ; and in order not to dissatisfy persons, 

 who appeared so happy to see the spots of the 

 Moon through Dollond's telescope, the absorp- 

 tion of two gazes in a eudiometrical tube, or the 

 effects of galvanism on the motions of a frog, we 

 were obliged to answer questions often obscure, 

 and repeat for whole hours the same experi- 

 ments. 



These scenes were renewed for the space of 



