246 



to the rain sinks only to 21 '5°. From the who 

 of these observations it follows, that between 

 the tropics, in plains where the temperature of 

 the air is in the day time almost invariably 

 above twenty-seven degrees, warmer clothing 

 during the night is requisite, whenever in a 

 damp air the thermometer sinks four or five 

 degrees. 



We landed, about eight in the morning, at 

 the point of Araya, near the new salt-works. A 

 solitary house stands in a plain destitute of 

 vegetation, near a battery of three guns, which 

 is the only defence of this coast, since the des- 

 truction of the fort of St. James's. The inspec- 

 tor of t he salt-works passes his life in a ham- 

 mock, whence he issues his orders to the work- 

 men ; a boat belonging to the king (la lancha 

 del re) brings him every week his provision 

 from Cumana. It is surprising that a salt- 

 work, which formerly excited the jealousy of 



petual snows. These notions are highly interesting to geo- 

 logy, and the geography of plants j because, in countries 

 where no height has been measured, we may form an exact 

 idea of the least height to which the Cordilleras rise, in look- 

 ing into the map for the words paramo and nevado. As the 

 paramoes are almost continually enveloped in a cold and 

 thick fog, the people say, at Santa Fe, and at Mexico, cae un 

 paramito, when a thick small rain falls, and the temperature 

 of the air sinks considerably. From paramo has been made 

 emparamarse f to be as cold as if we were on the ridge of the 

 Andes. 



