191 



miasmata, because they contain, as I have ob- 

 served elsewhere, vegeto-animal matter combin- 

 ed with tannin. It is said, that it would not 

 be difficult to widen the canal, by which the 

 lake of Campoma communicates with the sea, 

 and give thereby an outlet to the stagnant wa- 

 ters. The free Negroes, who often visit these 

 marshy lands, affirm, that this drain scarcely re- 

 quires to be deep, because the cold and limpid 

 waters of the Rio Azul are found at the bottom 

 of the lake, so that water drawn up from the 

 lower strata is potable and without smell. 



The town of Cariaco has been repeatedly 

 sacked in former times by the Caribs, It's po- 

 pulation has augmented rapidly, since the pro- 

 vincial authorities, in spite of the prohibitory 

 orders of the court of Madrid, have often fa- 

 voured the trade with foreign colonies. The 

 population has doubled in ten years ; and 

 amounted, in 1800, to more than 6000 souls. 

 The inhabitants are active in the cultivation of 

 cotton, which is of a very fine quality, and the 



distinct numbers the plants of our herbals, which we sub- 

 sequently ascertained. I think, that this method may be 

 recommended to travellers : it contributes to make known 

 the aspect of a country, upon which the catalogues desig- 

 nated by the vague term of Floras instruct us but very im- 

 perfectly, because they comprehend at once all kinds of 

 soil. 



