66 



By these means, it was computed, the yearly 

 harvest of tobacco would amount to 15,000 ar- 

 robas. I observed with pleasure, that this pro- 

 ject was blamed by several proprietors. It 

 could not be hoped, that, following the example 

 of some parts of the United States, liberty 

 would be granted to the negroes or their de- 

 scendants, after a certain number of years. It 

 might indeed well be considered as dangerous, 

 since the fatal events of St. Domingo, to in- 

 crease the number of slaves on the continent. 

 A prudent policy produces often the same effects 

 as the nobler and less common sentiments of 

 justice and humanity. 



The plain of Cumanacoa, spotted with farms, 

 and small plantations of indigo and tobacco, 

 is surrounded with mountains, which rise to- 

 ward the South, and are doubly interesting to 

 the natural philosopher and the geologist. 

 Every thing indicates, that the valley is the 

 bottom of an ancient lake. The mountains, 

 which in old times formed it's shores, are all 

 perpendicular toward the plain. The outlet 

 for the waters of the lake was only on t he side 

 of Arenas. In digging foundations, beds of 

 round pebbles, mixed with small bivalve shells, 

 are found ; and according to the report of se- 

 veral persons well worthy of credit, there were 

 discovered thirty years ago *, at the bottom of 



* This discovery was made by Don Alexandro Mexias, 

 corregidor of Catuaro. 



