486 



Sierra Nevada de Merida, as well as by the four 

 Paramos of Timotes, Niquitao, Bocono, and las 

 Rosas, of which the absolute height cannot be 

 less than from 1400 to 1600 toises. After the 

 Paramo of las Rosas, which is more elevated 

 than the two preceding, there is a great depres- 

 sion, and we no longer see a distinct chain or 

 ridge, but a hilly ground*, and high table- 

 lands surrounding the towns of Toeuyo and 

 Barquisimeto. We are ignorant of the height 

 even of Cerro del Altar, between Toeuyo and 

 Caranacatu ; but we know by the recent mea- 

 sures of MM. Rivero and Boussingault, that 

 the most inhabited spots are from 300 to 350 

 toises above the level of the Ocean. The limits 

 of the mountainous land between Toeuyo and 

 the vallies of Aragua are, the plains of San Car- 

 los on the south, and the Rio Toeuyo on the 

 north ; the Rio Siquisique throws itself into 

 that river. From the Cerro del Altar on the 

 N. E. towards Guigue and Valencia, succeed, 

 as culminant points-}-, the mountains of Santa 

 Maria (between Buria and Nirgua) ; then the 

 Picacho de Nirgua, supposed to be 600 toises 

 high ; and finally Las Palomeras and El Torito 

 (between Valencia and Nirgua). The line of 

 partition of water runs from west to east, from 



* See above, Vol. iv, p. 248 j vi, p. 209, 

 + MS. of General Cortes. 



