43 



Caribs. Notwithstanding the intimate ties, 

 which appear to unite the whole of the American 

 nations as belonging to the same race, several 

 tribes do not the less differ from each other in 

 the height of their stature, their complexion more 

 or less tawny, and their looks, which in some 

 express tranquillity and mildness, in others a si- 

 nister mixture of melancholy and ferocity. 



When we were near enough to hail them in 

 Spanish, the Indians threw aside their mistrust, 

 and came straight on board. They informed us, 

 that the low islet near which we were at anchor 

 was that of Coche, which had never been inha- 

 bited ; and that the Spanish vessels coming from 

 Europe were accustomed to sail farther north, 

 between this island and that of Margaretta, to 

 take a coasting pilot at the port of Pampatar. 

 Our inexperience had led us into the channel to 

 the sout h of Coche ; and as at this period the Eng-. 

 lish cruisers frequented this passage, the Indians 

 had taken us for an enemy's ship. The southern 

 passage is in fact highly advantageous for vessels 

 going to Cumana and Barcelona : it has less 

 water than the northern passage, which is much 

 narrower : but there is no risk of touching the 

 ground, if vessels keep very close to the island 

 of Lobos and the Moros del Tunal. The chan- 

 nel between Coche and Margaretta is narrowed 

 by the shoals off the north-west cape of Coche, 

 and by the bank that surrounds la Punta de 



