BOCA DE AFUEBA. 
149 
®rcliipelago of tlie Lesser Antilles and Baliaina Islands, 
■"'e are surprised to find those islands desert, which are near 
the coast of Cumaiia, Barcelona, and Caracas. They would 
leiig have ceased to be so had they been under the dominion 
any other government than that to which tliey belong. 
Nothing can engage men to circumscribe their industry 
^'ithiu the narrow limits of a small island, when a neigh- 
honring continent offers them greater advantages. 
We perceived, at sunset, the two points of the Boca de 
^fuera, rising like towers in the midst of the ocean. A 
Survey taheii with the compass, placed the mo.st easterly 
the points or roques at 0° 19° west of the western cape 
‘'f Orcliila. The clouds contiuued long accumulated over 
*hat island, and showed its position from afar. The influ- 
ence of a small tract of laud in condensing the vapours 
suspended at au elevation of 800 toises, is a very extra- 
ordinary phenomenon, although familiar to all mariners, 
yrom this accumulation of clouds, the position ol theloivest 
island may be recognized at a great distance. 
On the 29th November, we still saw very distinctly, at 
sunrise, the summit of the Silla of Caracas just rising above 
the horizon of the sea. At noon everything denoted a change 
of W’eather in the direction of the north : the atmosphere 
suddenly cooled to 12-6°, while the sea maintained a tem- 
perature of 23-6°, at its surface. At the moment of the 
observation of noon, the oscillations of tlie horizon, crossed 
oy streaks or black bands of very variable size, produced 
ehaiiges of refraction from 9° to 4°. The sea became 
rough in very calm weather, and everything announced a 
stormy passage between Ca 3 nnan Island and Cape^ St. 
^utonio. On the 30th the wind veered suddenly to N.N.E., 
uiid the surge rose to a considerable height. Northward, a 
uarkish blue tint was observable on the sky, the rolling of 
uur small vessel was violent, and we perceived amidst the 
dashing of the waves, two seas crossing each other, one from 
^he north and the other from N.N.E. AVaterspouts were 
prilled at the distance of a mile, and were carried rapidly 
Irom N N.E. to N.N.AV. AMieuever the waterspout drew 
Uear u,^^ fgij; wind grow sensibly cooler. _ Towards 
^''®uiug, owing to the carelessness of our American coolc, 
uur dedv took lire ; but I’ortuiiately it was soon extinguished. 
