807 



care as in the rocks of mica-slate of Punta 

 Araya. When we recollect how many bare and 

 rocky islands are inhabited and cultivated with 

 care between the 17° and 26° of latitude in the 

 archipelago of the Little Antilles and the Ba- 

 hama islands, we are surprised to find the 

 islands near the coast of Cumana, Barcelona, 

 and Caraccas, desert. They would long have 

 ceased to be so had they belonged to any other 

 government than that which is in possession of 

 the continent. Nothing can engage men to 

 circumscribe their industry within the narrow 

 limits of an island, when a neighbouring conti- 

 nent offers them greater advantages. 



We perceived at sunset, the two points of the 

 Roca de afuera, rising like towers in the midst 

 of the Ocean. A survey taken with the com- 

 pass, placed the most easterly of the Roques at 

 0° 19' west of the western cape of Orchila. The 

 clouds remained long accumulated over that 

 island, and shewed its position from afar. The 

 influence of a small track of land in condense 

 ing the vapours suspended at an elevation of 

 800 toises, is a very extraordinary phenomenon, 

 although familiar % to all mariners. From this 

 accumulation of clouds, the position of the 



* Henry Stubb, in the Phil. Trans., 1667, No. 27, p. 

 497 and 718, Courejoltes, in the Journ. de Phys, Vol. liv, p. 

 109. 



