94 



of Margaretta, which are of a similar compo- 

 sition, by the channel of Cubagua ; and toward 

 the south, from the lofty calcareous chain of the 

 continent, by the gulf of Cariaco. The whole 

 intermediate space appears to have been filled 

 heretofore with muriatiferous clay ; and it is no 

 doubt the continual erosions of the ocean, that 

 have removed this formation, and converted the 

 plain first into lakes, then into gulfs, and finally 

 into navigable channels. The account of what 

 has passed in the most modern times at the foot 

 of the castle of Araya, on the irruption of the 

 sea into the ancient saltpit, the form of the 

 lagoon of Chacopata, and a lake four leagues in 

 length, which cuts the Island of Margaretta 

 nearly into two parts, furnish evident proofs of 

 these successive erosions. In the singular con- 

 figuration of the coasts, in the Morro of Chaco- 

 pata ; in the little islands of the Caribbees, the 

 Lobos, and Tunal ; in the great island of Coche, 

 and the capes of Carnero and Mangliers ; the 

 remains of an isthmus* still seem to appear, 

 which, stretching from north to south, joined 

 heretofore the peninsula of Araya to the island 

 of Margaretta. In this last island a neck of very 

 low land, three thousand toises long, and less 

 than two hundred toises broad, alone conceals 



* The map de la Isla Margarita y de sus canaies, published 

 by Mr. Fidalgo in 1816, indicates very clearly these geog^ 

 nostic relations. 



