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hot regions, which are found in such great 

 abundance in the markets of the Caraccas. 

 The fields cultivated with sugarcanes and maize, 

 between Camburi aud Niguatar, stretch along 

 narrow valleys, which resemble crevices or clefts 

 in the rocks; and which, penetrated by the 

 rays of the sun, then above the horizon, pre- 

 sented the most singular contrasts of light and 

 shade. 



The mountains of Naguatar and the Silla of 

 Caraccas are the loftiest summits of this littoral 

 chain. The first almost reaches the height of 

 Canigou ; it seems as if the Pyrennees or the 

 Alps, stripped of their Snows, had risen from 

 the bosom of the waters ; so much greater 

 appears the mass of mountains, when viewed 

 for the first time on the side of the sea. Near 

 Caravalleda, the cultivated lands enlarge ; we 

 find hills with gentle declivities, and the vege- 

 tation rises to a great height. The sugarcane 

 is here cultivated, and the monks of La Merci 

 have a plantation of two hundred slaves. This 

 spot was formerly extremely subject to fever; 

 and it is said, that the salubrity of the air is 

 increased, since trees have been planted round 

 a small lake, the emanations of which were 

 dreaded, and which is now less exposed to the 

 ardour of the sun. To the west of Caravalleda, 

 a wall of bare rocks comes forward again to- 

 ward the sea, but it has little extent. After 



