347 



CHAPTER XL 



Passage from Cumana to La Guayra. — Morro 

 of New Barcelona. — Cape Coder a. — Road 

 from La Guayra to Caraccas. 



On the 16th of November, at eight in the 

 evening, we were under sail to pass along the 

 coast from Cumana to the port of La Guayra, 

 by which the inhabitants of the province of 

 Venezuela export the greater part of their 

 produce. The passage is only sixty leagues, 

 and often takes only thirty-six or forty hours. 

 The little coasting vessels are favored at once 

 by the wind, and by the currents, which run 

 with more or less strength from east to west, 

 along the coasts of Terra Firma, particularly 

 from Cape Paria to that of Chichibacoa. The 

 road by land from Cumana to New Barcelona, 

 and thence to Caraccas, is nearly in the same 

 state as before the discovery of America. The 

 traveller must contend with the obstacles of a 

 miry country, large scattered rocks, and the 

 force of vegetation. He must sleep in the open 

 air, pass the vallies of the Unare, the Tuy, and 



