98 



does on the opposite coast of Cumana. The 

 peninsula of Araya, which narrows between 

 the capes Mero and las Minas to one thousand 

 four hundred toises broad, is a little more than 

 four thousand near the Laguna chica, reckoning 

 from one sea to the other. We had to cross 

 this inconsiderable distance in order to find the 

 native alum, and reach the cape called the 

 Punta de Chuparuparu, The road is difficult 

 only because no path is traced ; and between 

 precipices of some depth you are obliged to step 

 over ridges of bare rock, the strata of which are 

 much inclined. The culminant point is nearly 

 two hundred and twenty toises high ; but the 

 mountains, as it often happens in a rocky isth- 

 mus, display very singular forms. The Tetas 

 of Chacopata and Cariaco, halfway between 

 the Laguna chica and the town of Cariaco, are 

 real peaks, which appear isolated when seen 

 from the platform of the castle of Cumana. The 

 vegetable earth in this country reaches only 

 thirty toises above the level of the sea. Some- 

 times there is no rain during fifteen months # ; 

 if, however, a few drops fall immediately after 

 the flowering of the melons and gourds, they 

 yield fruits that weigh from sixty to seventy 

 pounds, notwithstanding the apparent dryness 

 of the air. I say the apparent dryness, for my 



* Vol.iii/p. 204, 



