416 



parated from them by the ravin (quebrada ) of 

 Tocume, every where we admire the grand 

 character of the landscape. From Guayavo we 

 proceed for half an hour over a smooth table- 

 land, covered with alpine plants. This part 

 of the way, on account of it's windings, is called 

 Las Vueltas. We find a little higher up the 

 barracks or magazines of flour, which were 

 constructed by the Guipuzcoa company in a 

 spot of cool temperature, when they had the 

 exclusive monopoly of the trade of Caraccas, 

 and supplying it with provision. On the road 

 to Las Vueltas we see for the first time the 

 capital, standing three hundred toises below, 

 in a valley luxuriantly planted with coffee and 

 European fruit trees. Travellers are accus- 

 tomed to stop near a fine spring, known by the 

 name of Fuente de Sanchorquiz, that descends 

 from the Sierra on sloping strata of gneiss. I 

 found it's temperature 16*4° ; which, for an ele- 

 vation of seven hundred and twenty-six toises, 

 is a considerable coolness ; and it would appear 

 still greater, to those who drink it's limpid 

 water, if, instead of gushing out between La 

 Cumbre and the temperate valley of Caraccas, 

 it were found on the descent toward La Guay- 

 ra. But I have observed, that at this descent 

 on the northern side of the mountain, the rock *, 



* Hor. 83 ; dip 40° south-east. 



