397 



not more considerable. The savannahs of 

 Lower Louisiana every where remind us of the 

 savannahs of the Lower Oroonoko. 



We remained three days in the little town of 

 San Fernando. We lodged with the Capuchin 

 missionary, who lived much at his ease. We 

 were recommended to him by the bishop of 

 Caraccas, and he showed us the most obliging- 

 attentions. He consulted me on the works, 

 that had been undertaken to prevent the flood 

 from undermining the shore, on which lift town 

 was built. The flowing of the Portuguesa into 

 the Apure gives the latter an impulse toward 

 the South-West ; and, instead of procuring a 

 freer course for the river, attempts were made 

 to con hue it by dykes and piers. It was easy to 

 predict, that these would be the more rapidly 

 destroyed by the swell of the waters, as the 

 shore, had been weakened by taking away the 

 earth behind the dyke, to be employed in these 

 hydraulic constructions. 



San Fernando is celebrated for the excessive 

 heat, that prevails there the greater part of the 

 year : and before I begin the recital of our long 

 navigation on the rivers, I shall relate some 

 facts, that are calculated to throw light on the 

 meteorology of the tfopics. We went provided 

 with thermometers to the flat shores, that border 

 the river Apure, which is covered with white 

 sand. At two in the afternoon I found the sand. 



