19 



degrees. It 13 easy to account for these phe- 

 nomena^ on recollecting, that the interior 

 of the globe, and the subterraneous waters, 

 have a temperature almost identical with the 

 annual mean temperature of the air ; and 

 that the latter differs from the mean heat 

 of the summer in proportion to the distance 

 from the equator. The dip of the needle at 

 Quetepe was 42*7° of the centesimal division. 

 The cyanometer indicated for the colour of the 

 sky at the zenith only 14° ; no doubt because 

 the season of the rains had begun some days 

 before, and the air was already mingled with 

 vapours # . 



From the top of a hill of sandstone, which 

 overlooks the spring of Quetepe, we had a mag- 

 nificent view of the sea, cape Macanao, and the 

 peninsula of Maniquarez. An immense forest 

 extended itself at our feet to the edge of the 

 ocean. The tops of the trees, intertwined with 

 lianas, crowned with long wreaths of flowers, 



formed a vast carpet of verdure, the dark tint 



• 



* At four in the afternoon j Deluc's hygrometer, 48° ; 

 centigrade thermometer, 26*5°. From Quetepe I found by 

 the compass the bearings of Cape Macanao N. 26° W. The 

 angle between the Cape and the Valley of San Juan in the 

 Island of Margaretta is 29° 28'. The distance in a straight 

 line from Quetepe to Cumana appears to be three leagues 

 and a half. 



c 2 



