253 



half a piastre, costs a piastre and a half *. This 

 augmentation of price is slightly compensated 

 by a greater purity of the salt, and by the faci- 

 lity with which the fishermen and farmers can 

 procure it in abundance during the whole 

 year. The salt-works of Araya yielded the trea- 

 sury in 1799 a clear income of eight thousand 

 piastres. 



From these statistical accounts it results, that 

 the manufacture of salt is of no great import- 

 ance, considered as a branch of industry. It is 

 more worthy our attention on account of the na- 

 ture of the soil, which contains the salt-marshes. 

 In order to have a clear idea of the geological 

 connection of this muriatiferous soil with the 

 rocks of more ancient formation, we shall take a 

 general view of the neighbouring mountains of 

 Cumana, and those of the peninsula of Araya, 

 and the island of Margaretta. 



Three great parallel chains extend themselves 

 from east to west. The two most northerly chains 

 are primitive, and contain the mica-slates of 

 Macanao, and the valley of San Juan, of Mani- 

 quarez, and of Chuparipari. These we shall 

 distinguish by the names of Cordillera of the 

 island of Margaretta, and Cordillera of Araya. 



* The fanega is sold to those Indians and fishermen who 

 do not pay the duties (derechos reaks), at Punta Araya for 

 six, at Cumana for eight reals. The prices to the other tribes 

 are, at Araya ten, at Cumana twelve reals. 



2n2 



