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islands, which, in consequence of the retreat of 

 the waters, scarcely begin to be joined to the 

 continent, as the rocky island of Culebra, on 

 the side of Guigrie ; other islands already form 

 promontories, as the Morro, between Guigue 

 and Nueva Valencia, and La Cabrera, South- 

 East of Mariara ; others now rise in the islands, 

 like scattered hills. Among these last, so easily 

 recognized at a distance, some are only a 

 quarter of a mile, others a league from the 

 present shore. I shall cite as the most remark- 

 able three granitic islands, thirty or forty toises 

 high, on the road from Hacienda de Cura to 

 Aguas Calientes ; and at the western extremity 

 of the lake, the Serrito de Don Pedro, Islote, and 

 Caratapona. On visiting two islands * en- 

 tirely surrounded by water, we found in the 

 midst of brush-wood, on small flats of four, six, 

 and even eight toises height above the surface 

 of the lake, fine sand mixed with helicites, 

 anciently deposited by the waters. In each of 

 these islands may be perceived the most certain 

 traces of the gradual sinking of the waters. 

 But still farther, and this accident is regarded 

 by the inhabitants as a marvellous phenomenon, 



* Isla de Cura, and Cabo Blanco. The promontory of 

 Cabrera has been connected with the shore ever since 

 the year 1750 or 1760, by a vale, which bears the name 

 ojf Portachuelo. 



