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vegetation, and the extreme humidity of the 

 atmosphere, it is not the same in the savannahs 

 or Llanos of Monai and Carora. These Llanos 

 are separated by the mountainous tract of To- 

 cuyo and Nirgua from the great Plaines de la 

 Portuguesa et de Calabozo. It is a very ex- 

 traordinary phenomenon to see barren savan- 

 nahs loaded with miasmata. No marshy ground 

 is found there, but several phenomena indicate 

 a disengagement of hydrogen gas *. When 

 travellers, who are not acquainted with natural 

 inflammable gasses, are shown the Cueva del 

 Serrito de Monai, it is usual to frighten them by 

 setting fire to the gaseous mixture, which is 



* What is that luminous phenomenon known under the 

 name of the lantern (farol) of Maracaybo, which is perceived 

 every night, toward the seaside as well as in the inland 

 parts, at Merida for example, where Mr. Palacios observed 

 it during two years ? The distance, greater than 40 leagues, 

 at which the light is distinguished, has led to the supposition, 

 that it might be owing to the effects of a thunderstorm, or 

 of electrical explosions, which might daily take place in a 

 pass in the mountains. It is asserted, that, on approaching 

 the farol, the rolling of thunder is heard. Others vaguely 

 pretend, that it is an air-volcano ; and that asphaltic soils, like 

 those of Mena, cause these inflammable exhalations so con- 

 stant in their appearance. The phenomenon takes place on 

 a mountainous and uninhabited spot, on the borders of the 

 Rio Catatumbo, near it's junction with the Rio Sulia. The 

 place of the farol is such, that, being nearly in the meridian 

 of the opening (boca) of the lake of Maracaybo, navigators 

 are guided by it as by a lighthouse. 



