552 



idea of the mean height of Parima and of all 

 the mountains of eastern America. To the east 

 of the Sierra Nevada de Merida, as well as to 

 the south east of the Paramo de las Rosas, none 

 of the chains, that extend in the direction of the 

 latitude, reach the height of the central ridge of 

 the Pyrenees. 



The granitic summit of Duida is so nearly 

 perpendicular, that the Indians have vainly 

 attempted the ascent. It is known, that moun- 

 tains the least elevated are sometimes the most 

 inaccessible. At the beginning and the end of 

 the rainy season small flames, which seem to 

 change their place, are seen on the top of 

 Duida. This phenomenon, which it is difficult 

 to doubt, on account of the agreement in the 

 testimony concerning it, has given this moun- 

 tain the improper name of a volcano. As it 

 stands nearly alone, it might be supposed, that 

 lightning from time to time sets fire to the 

 brush-wood ; but this supposition loses it's pro- 

 bability, when we reflect on the extreme difficul- 

 ty, with which plants are set on fire in these 

 damp climates. It must be observed also, that 

 these little flames are said to appear often where 

 the rock seems scarcely covered with turf, and 

 that the same igneous phenomena are displayed 

 on days entirely exempt from storms on the 

 summit of Guaraco, or Murcielago, a hill 

 opposite the mouth of the Rio Tamatama, on 



