24 



and along the coasts of Venezuela. On the 

 northern declivity of the Impossible, near the 

 Pennas Negras, an abundant spring gushes 

 from sandstone, which alternates with a schis- 

 tous clay. We remarked on this point fractured 

 strata, which lie from N. W. to S. E., and the 

 dip of which is almost perpendicular. 

 , • The LlctneroSy or inhabitants of the plains, 

 send their produce, especially maize, leather, and 

 cattle, to the port of Cumana by the road over 

 the Impossible. We continually saw mules ar- 

 rive, led by Indians or Mulattoes. The solitude 

 of this place recalled forcibly the nights I had 

 passed on the top of St. Gothard. Several 

 parts of the vast forests, which surround the 

 mountain, had taken fire. Reddish flames, 

 half enveloped in clouds of smoke, presented 

 the most awful spectacle. The inhabitants 

 set fire to the forests, to meliorate the pastu- 

 rage, and destroy the shrubs, that choke the 

 grass, already so scarce in these countries. 

 Enormous conflagrations too are often caused 

 by the carelessness of the Indians, who neglect, 

 when they travel, to extinguish the fire with 

 which they have dressed their food. These 

 accidents have contributed to diminish the 

 number of old trees in the road from Cumana 

 to Cumanacoa ; and the inhabitants observe 

 justly, that, in several parts of their province, 

 the dryness has increased, not only because 



