364 



Morro de Barcelona, built at sixty or seventy 

 toises of elevation above the level of the sea. 

 It is a calcareous rock lately fortified ; but is 

 commanded on the south by a hill far more 

 lofty; and engineers assert, that it would not 

 be difficult for an enemy, after having landed 

 between the mouth of the river and the Morro, 

 to turn the latter, and erect batteries on the 

 surrounding heights. We remained five hours 

 in the fort, the guard of which is confided to 

 the provincial militia. We waited in vain for 

 intelligence concerning the English privateers 

 stationed along the coast. Two of our fellow- 

 travellers, brothers of the Marquis del Toro of 

 Caraccas, came from Spain, where they had 

 served in the King's guards. They were men 

 of highly cultivated minds, who, in company 

 with the brigadier de Caxigal, and Count To- 

 var, were returning, after a long absence, to 

 their native country. They had more reason 

 than we to fear being made prisoners, and car- 

 ried to Jamaica. I had no passport from the 

 admiralty, but secure in the protection, which 

 the English government grants to those, who 

 travel for the progress of science, I had written 

 on my arrival at Cumana to the governor of 

 the island of Trinidad, to explain to him the 

 purpose of my researches. The answer I re- 

 ceived by way of the Gulf of Paria was entirely 

 to my satisfaction. 



