17 



physical and moral causes, the choice and pro- 

 duction of alimentary plants have an influence 

 on three important objects at once ; the associ- 

 ation or the isolated state of families, the more 

 or less rapid progress of civilization, and the 

 individual character of the landscape. 



In proportion as we penetrated into the fo- 

 rest, the barometer indicated the progressive 

 elevation of the land. The trunks of the trees 

 presented here an extraordinary phenomenon ; 

 a gramineous plant, with verticillate branches *, 

 climbs, like a liana, eight or ten feet, and forms 

 festoons, which cross the path, and swing about 

 with the wind. We halted, about three o'clock 

 in the afternoon, on a small flat, which is known 

 under the name of Quetepe, and is elevated 

 about one hundred and ninety toises above the 

 level of the sea. A few small houses-}- have 

 been erected near a spring, well known by the 

 natives for its coolness and great salubrity. 

 We found the water delicious. It's tempera- 

 ture was only 22'5°% of the centigrade thermo- 

 meter, while that of the air was 28*7°. The 



* Charice, analogous to the chusque of Santa Fe, of the 

 group of the nastuses. This gramineous plant is excellent 

 pasture for mules. See the Nova Genera et Species Planta- 

 rum equin, which I am publishing in conjunction with Messrs. - 

 Bonpland and Kunth. 



t Habitation de Don Juan Pelay. 



J 1 8° of Reaumur's thermometer. 

 VOL. III. C 



