208 



containing fragments of madrepores and other 

 corals cemented by a limestone basis and grains 

 of sand. We had already seen this agglomerate 

 near the Rio Guayguaza. By the singular 

 disposition of the ground the port resembles a 

 basin, or a little inland lake, the southern ex- 

 tremity of which is filled with little islands, 

 covered with mangroves. The opening of the 

 port toward the West contributes much to the 

 smoothness of the water *. One vessel only can 

 enter at a time ; but the largest ships of the 

 line can anchor very near land, to take in water. 

 There is no other danger in entering the har- 

 bour, than the reefs of Punta Brava, opposite 

 which a battery of eight guns has been erected. 

 Toward the West and South- West we see the fort, 

 which is a regular pentagon with five bastions, 

 the battery of the reef, and the fortifications 

 that surround the ancient town, founded on an 

 island of a trapezoidal form. A bridge, and the 

 fortified gate of the Staccado, join the old to the 

 new town, which is already larger, though con- 

 sidered only as a suburb. The bottom of the 



* It is disputed at Porto-Cabello, whether the name of 

 the Port be owing to the tranquillity of it's waters, " which 

 would not move a hair ( cabello ) f or, which is more pro~ 

 bable, derived from Antonio Cabello, one of the fishermen, 

 with whom the smugglers of Curassoa had formed an inti- 

 mate connection, at the period when the first hamlet was 

 constructed on this half-desert coast. 



