676 



tude*. Having two months before taken horary 

 angles on the bank opposite Capuchino, these 

 observations were important for determining the 

 rate of my chronometer, and connecting the situ- 

 ations on the Oroonoko with those on the shore 

 of Venezuela. The situation of this farm, being 

 at the point where the Oroonoko changes it's 

 course, which was from south to north, and 

 hence runs from west to east, is extremely pictu- 

 resque. Granitic rocks-}- rise like islets amid 

 vast meadows. From their tops we discerned 

 toward the north the Llanos or steppes of Cala- 

 bozo bounding the horizon. Long accustomed 

 to the aspect of forests, this view powerfully 

 struck the imagination. The steppes after sun- 

 set assume a tint of greenish gray. The visual 

 ray being intercepted only by the rotundity of 

 the Earth, the stars seemed to rise as from the 

 bosom of the ocean, and the most experienced 



* I had found, April the 4th, for the Boca del Rio Apure 

 (on the western bank of the Oroonoko), the lat. 7° 36' 30" ; 

 the longitude ^69° 7' 30* ; June the 8th, I found, for the 

 Hato del Capuchino (on the eastern bank of the Oroonoko), 

 the lat. 7° 37' 45" j the long. 69° 6' 30". See my Obs. Astr. 

 vol. i, p. 244. 



t They are Punto Curiquima, Cerro del Capuchino, or 

 Pocopocori, Cerro Sacuima, and Pan de Azucar^de Caycara, 

 on the right bank of the Oroonoko ; Loma de Cabruta, Cerro 

 Aguaro, and Coruato (the refuge of Indian malefactors, who 

 have deserted from the neighbouring missions), on the left 

 bank of the Oroonoko. 



