335 



the murichi, loaded with scaly fruit, contrasts 

 singularly with the mournful aspect of the palma 

 de cobija, the foliage of which is always gray, 

 and covered with dust. The Llaneros believe, 

 that the former attracts the vapours in the air*; 

 and that for this reason, water is constantly found 

 at it's foot, when dug for to a certain depth. 

 The effect is confounded with the cause. The 

 murichi grows best in moist places ; and it may 

 rather be said, that the water attracts the tree. 

 The natives of the Oroonoko, by analogous rea- 

 soning, admit, that the great serpents contribute 

 to preserve humidity in a canton. " You would 

 look in vain for water-serpents," said an old 

 Indian of Javita to us gravely, where there 

 are no marshes ; because the water collects no 

 more, when you imprudently kill the serpents 

 that attract it." 



We suffered greatly from the heat in crossing 

 the Mesa de Calabozo. The temperature of the 

 air augmented sensibly every time that the wind 

 began to blow. The air was loaded with dust; 

 and during these gusts the thermometer rose to 

 40° or 41°. We went slowly forward, for it 

 would have been dangerous to leave the mules 

 that carried our instruments. Our guides ad- 



* If the head of the murichi were better furnished with 

 leaves than it generally is, we might perhaps admit, that the 

 soil round the tree preserves it's humidity from the influence 

 of it's shade. 



