580 



observe (in the missions of Caripe and around 

 the gulph of Cariaeo) a great accumulation of 

 secondary and tertiary calcareous rocks. From 

 the point where the Cordillera of the shore is 

 linked with the Andes of New Grenada (long. 

 71 we observe first the granitic mountains 

 of Aroa and San Felipe, between the rivers of 

 Yaracui and Tocuyo * ; these granitic forma- 

 tions extend on the east of the two coasts of 

 the basin of the tallies of Aragua, in the 

 northern chain, as far as Cape Codera ; and in 

 the southern as far as the mountains {Altas 

 Savanas) of Ocumare. After the remarkable 

 interruption of the Cordillera of the shore in 

 the province of Barcelona, the granitic rocks 

 begin to appear in the Island of Marguerita 

 and in the isthmus of Araya, and continue per- 

 haps towards the Bocas del Drago; but on the 

 east of the meridian of Cape Codera, the 

 northern chain only is granitic (of micaceous 

 slate); the southern chain (Morro de Nueva 

 Barcelona, Archipelago of the Caraccas islands, 

 Cerro del Bergantin, vicinity of Cumanacoa, 

 Cocollar and Caripe,) is entirely composed of 

 secondary limestone and sandstone. 



* Manuscript notes of General Cortes : my own observa- 

 tions begin only in the meridian of Portocabello (long. 70° 

 37') and terminate at that of Cerro de Meapire (long. 05° 

 51 near Cariaeo. 



