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tween two winds, one that comes from the west, 

 or the seaside, and the other from the east, or 

 the inland country. The first is known by the 

 name of the wind of Catia, because it blows 

 from Catia to the west of Cape Blanco through 

 the ravin of Tipe, which we have already no- 

 ticed, in speaking of a new road and a new port 

 projected to replace the road and the port of La 

 Guayra. The wind of Catia has only the ap- 

 pearance of a western wind ; it is oftener the 

 breeze of the east and north-east, which, rush- 

 ing with extreme impetuosity, ingulfs itself in 

 the Quebreda de Tipe. Reflected by the high 

 mountains of Aguas Negras, this wind goes up 

 toward Caraccas, by the side of the hospital of 

 the Capuchins, and the Rio Caraguata. It is 

 loaded with humidity, which it deposits as it's 

 temperature decreases, and consequently the 

 summit of theSillais wrapped in clouds, when the 

 catia blows in the valley. This wind is dreaded 

 by the inhabitants of Caraccas ; it causes head- 

 aches to those persons, whose nervous system 

 is irritable. I have known some, who, in 

 order to shun it's effects, shut themselves up 

 in their houses, as people do in Italy when 

 the sirocco blows. I thought I had per- 

 ceived during my stay at Caraccas, that the 

 wind of Catia was purer (a little richer in oxy- 

 gen) than the wind of Petare. I even imagined, 

 that it's purity might explain it's exciting pro- 



