131 



there are subterraneous communications and 

 filtrations. The appearance of new islands, and 

 the gradual retreat of the waters, have led to the 

 belief, that the lake may perhaps become en- 

 tirely dry. An assemblage of physical circum- 

 stances so remarkable was well fitted to fix my 

 attention on those valleys, where the wild 

 beauty of nature is embellished by agricultural 

 industry, and the arts of rising civilization. 



The lake of Valencia, called Tacarigua* by 

 the Indians, exceeds in magnitude the lake of 

 Neufchatel in Switzerland ; but it's general form 

 has more resemblance to the lake of Geneva, 

 which is nearly at the same height above the 

 level of the sea* The slope of the ground 

 in the valleys of Aragua tending toward the 

 South and the West, that part of the basin, 

 which has remained covered with water, is the 

 nearest to the southern chain of the mountains 

 of Guigue, of Yusma, and of Guacimo, which 

 stretch toward the high savannahs of Ocumare. 

 The opposite banks of the lake of Valencia dis- 

 play a singular contrast ; those on the South 

 are desert, and almost uninhabited, and a screen 

 of high mountains gives them a gloomy and 

 monotonous aspect. The northern shore, on 

 the contrary, is cheerful, pastoral, and decked 



* Fray Pedro Simon calls the lake, no doubt by mistake, 

 Acarigua aud Tarigua. (Notic. Hist., p. 533 and 668.) 



K 2 



