198 



time it's monopolies, and it's ancient domina- 

 tion. 



We embarked early in the morning in hopes 

 of crossing the Gulf of Cariaco in the day. 

 The motion of the waters resembles that of our 

 great lakes, when they are gently agitated by 

 the winds. There are only twelve nautical 

 leagues from the place of embarkation to Cu- 

 mana. On quitting the small town of Cariaco, 

 we proceeded westward along the river of Care- 

 nicuar, which, in a straight line like an artifi- 

 cial canal, leads through gardens and planta- 

 tions of cotton-trees. The whole of this ground, 

 a little marshy, is cultivated with the greatest 

 care. During our abode in Peru, the cultiva- 

 tion of the coffee-tree was introduced in the 

 driest spots. We saw the Indian women wash- 

 ing their linen, along the river of Cariaco, with 

 the fruit of the parapara (sapindus saponaria). 

 This operation is said to be very injurious to the 

 fine linen. The bark of the fruit produces much 

 scum ; and the fruit is so elastic, that thrown 

 on a stone, it bounds three or four times to the 

 height of seven or eight feet. Being of a spheri- 

 cal form, it is employed in making rosaries. 



We were scarcely embarked, when we had 

 to struggle against contrary winds. The rain 

 came down in torrents, and the thunder rolled 

 very near. Swarms of flamingoes, egrets, and 

 cormorants filled the air, seeking the shore. 



