246 



to the rain sinks only to 21*5°. From the whole 

 of these observations it follows, that between 

 the tropics, in plains where the temperature of 

 the air is in the day time almost invariably 

 above twenty-seven degrees, warmer clothing 

 during the night is requisite, whenever in a 

 damp air the thermometer sinks four or five 

 degrees. 



We landed, about eight in the morning, at 

 the point of Araya, near the new salt-works. A 

 solitary house stands in a plain destitute of 

 vegetation, near a battery of three guns, which 

 is the only defence of this coast, since the des- 

 truction of the fort of St. James's. The inspec- 

 tor of the salt-works passes his life in a ham- 

 mock, whence he issues his orders to the work- 

 men ; a boat belonging to the king (la lancha 

 del re) brings him every week his provision 

 from Cumana. It is surprising that a salt- 

 work, which formerly excited the jealousy of 



petnal snows. These notions are highly interesting to geo- 

 logy, and the geography of plants - } because, in countries 

 where no height has been measured, we may form an exact 

 idea of the least height to which the Cordilleras rise, in look- 

 ing into the map for the words paramo and nevado. As the 

 paramoes are almost continually enveloped in a cold and 

 thick fog, the people say, at Santa Fe, and at Mexico, cae un 

 paramito, when a thick small rain falls, and the temperature 

 of the air sinks considerably. From paramo has been made 

 emparamarse, to be as cold as if we were on the ridge of the 

 Andes. 



