603 



de Cura, and at Chuao (Vol. iv. p. 116, 167), it 

 has large grains, containing fine crystals of 

 feldspar, li inches long. It is divided in prisms 

 by perpendicular vents, or stratified regularly, 

 like secondary limestone, at las Trincheras 

 (Vol. iv, p. 198) ; the strait of Baraguan in the 

 valley of the Oroonoko, (Vol. iv, p. 502), and 

 near Guapasoso, on the banks of the Atabapo 

 (Vol. v, p. 224). The stratified granite of the 

 Trincheras, giving birth to very hot springs (from 

 90*3° cent.), appears from the inclination of its 

 layers, superposed upon gneiss, which is seen 

 further southward in the islands of the lakes of 

 Valencia; but conjectures of superposition 

 founded only on the hypothesis of an indefinite 

 prolongation of the strata, are little certain ; 

 and perhaps the granite masses which form a 

 small particular zone in the northern range of 

 the Cordillera of the shore, between 70° 3', and 

 70° 50' of longitude * were heaved-up in pierc- 

 ing the gneiss. The latter rock is prevalent, 

 both in descending from the Rincon del Diablo 

 towards the south, to the hot-springs of Ma- 

 riara, and towards the banks of the lake of Va- 

 lencia, and in advancing on the east towards 

 the groupe of Buenavista, and the Silla of 

 Caraccas, and Cape Codera. In the region of 



* In supposing Nueva Valencia long. 70° 34', and Villa 

 de Curalong, 70° 5 \ 



