89 



current for several months. These gloomy re- 

 ports had arisen either from the severe illness of 

 Mr. Bonpland, or from our boat being nearly 

 lost in a gust of wind above the mission of 

 Uruana. 



We hastened to visit the governor, don Vi- 

 cente Emparan, whose recommendations and 

 constant solicitude had been so useful to us 

 during the long journey we had just terminated. 

 He procured a house for us in the centre of the 

 town*, perhaps too lofty in a country exposed to 

 violent earthquakes, but extremely convenient 

 for our instruments. We enjoyed from it's ter- 

 races a majestic view of the sea, the isthmus of 

 Araya, and the archipelago of the isles of Ca- 

 raccas, Picuita, and Borracha. The port of 

 Cumana was every day more strictly blockaded, 

 and the vain expectation of Spanish packets 

 retained us two months and a half longer in 

 that place. We were often tempted to go to 

 the Danish islands, enjoying a happy neutrality ; 

 but feared that, if we left the Spanish colonies, 



* Casa de don Pasqual Martinez, on the north-east of the 

 great square, near which I had made observations from July 

 the 28th to November the 17th, 1799. All the astronomical 

 observations, and those of mirage (vol. iii, p. 542), which are 

 posterior to August the 29th, 1800, were made in the house 

 of don Martinez. I relate these circumstances, because they 

 may be interesting at some future period to those, who may 

 wish to examine the precision of my labours 



