381 



having passed it, we discovered at once the 

 pleasant situation of the village of Macuto ; the 

 black rocks of La Guayra, studded with batte- 

 ries rising in tiers one over another ; and in a 

 misty distance Cabo Blanco, a long promon- 

 tory with conical summits, and of dazzling 

 whiteness. Cocoa-trees border the shore, and 

 give it under that burning sky an appearance of 

 fertility. 



I landed in the port of La Guayra, and the 

 same evening made preparations for transport- 

 ing my instruments to Caraccas. The persons 

 for whom I had recommendations advised me 

 not to sleep in the town, where the yellow fever 

 had only ceased a few weeks, but in a house 

 on a little hill, above the village of Maiquetia, 

 more exposed to fresh winds than La Guayra. 

 I arrived at Caraccas the 21st of November, 

 in the evening, four days sooner than my fel- 

 low travellers, who on their journey by land 

 had suffered greatly from the showers, and the 

 inundations of the torrents, between Capaya 

 and Curiepe. In order to avoid repeating the 

 same subjects, I shall here subjoin to the des- 

 cription of La Guayra, and the extraordinary 

 road which leads from that port to the town 

 of Caraccas, all the observations made by Mr. 

 Bonpland and myself, in an excursion to Cabo 

 Blanco* toward the end of January, 1800. Mr. 



* From the 23d to the 27th of January. 



