495 



Cape Codera and the Silla of Caraccas) reappears 

 on the meridian of Cumana. The micaceous- 

 slate of the peninsula of Araya and Maniquarez* 

 are joined by the ridge or knot of mountains of 

 Meapire^c, to the southern chain, that of Pana- 

 quire, Bergantin,Turimiquiri, Caripe, and Gua~ 

 charo^. I have mentioned in another place, 

 that this ridge, not more than 200 toises of ab- 

 solute height, has, in the ancient revolutions of 

 our planet, prevented the irruption of the 

 Ocean, and the union of the gulphs of Paria 

 and Cariaco. On the west of Cape Codera, the 

 northern chain, composed of primitive granitic 

 rocks, displays the loftiest summits of the whole 

 Cordillera of Venezuela; but the culminant 

 points on the east of that Cape, are composed 

 in the southern chain, of secondary calcareous 

 rocks. We have seen above, that the peak of 

 Turimiquiri, at the back of the Cocollar is 

 1050 toises, while the bottom of the high val- 

 lies of the convent of Caripe ||, and of Guardia 

 de San Augustin, are 412 and 533 toises of ahso- 

 lute height. On the east of the ridge of Mea- 



the town of Cumanacoa, according to my observations, is 

 10° 16' 11". 



* Vol. ii, p. 362 3 Vol. vi, p. 92, &c. 

 f Vol, ii, p. 260 j Vol. iii, p. 183. 

 + Vol. ill, p. 174. 

 § Vol. iii, p. 9,4. 

 || Vol. iii, p. 115. 



