555 



fill the space between the mountains of Pa- 

 rime and New Grenada. The two parts of 

 this basin have an opposite direction ; but 

 being alike covered with gramina, they are 

 usually comprehended in the country un- 

 der the same denomination. Those Llanos 

 (steppes y savannahs, or prairies) extend in the 

 form of an arch from the mouth of the Oroo- 

 noko, by San Fernando de Apure, to the con- 

 fluence of the Rio Caguan with the Jupura, 

 consequently on a length of more than 360 

 leagues. 



1.) Part of the basin of Venezuela running 

 from east to west. The general slope is to- 

 wards the east, and the mean height from 40 to 

 50 toises. The western bank of that great sea 

 of verdure (mar de yerhas) is formed by a groupe 

 of mountains, several of which equal or sur- 

 pass in height the Peak of Teneriffe and 

 Mont Blanc. Of this number are the Para- 

 mos del Almorzadero, Cacota, Laura, Por- 

 quera, Mucuchies, Ti motes, and Las Rosas. 

 The northern and southern banks are gene- 

 rally less than 500 or 600 toises high. I 

 have given elsewhere an ample description of 

 the soil of the Llanos (Vol. iii, p. 285, 349; 

 Vol. iv, p. 293, 300, 313, 317, 330, 394; Vol. 

 v, p. 670 ; Vol. vi, p. 4, 17, 43, 73.) It is re- 

 marked with some surprise, that the maximum 



