806 



logical constitution of Orchila resembles, on a 

 small scale, that of Marguerita ; it is composed 

 of two groupes of rocks joined by a neck of 

 land; it is an isthmus covered with sand, 

 which, seems to have issued from the floods by 

 the successive lowering of the level of the sea. 

 The rocks, like all those which are perpendicu^ 

 lar, and insulated in the middle of the sea, ap- 

 pear much more elevated than they really are, 

 for they scarcely attain from 80 to 90 toises. 

 The Punta rasa stretches to the north-west, 

 and is lost like a sandbank below the waters. 

 It is dangerous for navigators, like the Mogote, 

 which, at the distance of two miles from the 

 western cape, is surrounded by breakers. In 

 examining these rocks very near, we saw the 

 strata of gneiss inclined towards the north- 

 west, and crossed by thick layers of quartz. 

 These layers have no doubt given place by 

 their destruction, to the sands of the surround- 

 ing beach, Some clumps of trees shade the 

 vallies ; the summits of the hills are crowned 

 with palm trees with fan-leaves. It is probably 

 the Palmo de sombrero * of the Llanos (corypha 

 tectorum). The rains are not abundant in 

 these countries ; }t is probable, however, that 

 some springs might be found on the island of 

 Orchila, if they were sought for with the same 



* See our Nova Genera Plant. Equin.j Tom. i, p. 299. 



