332 
MOtTNTINS OF CAEACAS. 
coast recedes at the parallel 10° 6^ and resumes its orijrina! 
direction (10 37'— 10° 44') from the rrestern extremity of 
the peninsula ot Araya, to the eastern extremities of Mon- 
tana de larui and the island of Trinidad. From this dis- 
section of the coast, it follows that the range of mountains 
oordering the shore of the provinces of Caracas and Barce- 
lona between the meridian 06° 32' and 68° 29', (which I saw 
on the south oi the bay of Higuerote and on the north of 
the Llanos ol Pao and Cachipo,) must be considered as the 
continuation of the southern chain of Venezuela, and as 
being linked on the west with the Sierras de Panaouire and 
Iciimare. It may, therefore, be said tliat between Cape 
Codera and Canaeo, the inland chain itself forms the coak. 
tins range of very low mountains, often interrupted from tlie 
nmuth of the Eio Tiiy to that of the Eio Neveri, rises 
abruptly mi the east of Kueva Barcelona, first in the rocky 
island of Chimanas, and then in the Cerro del Bergantiii 
elevated probably more than 800 toises, but of which the 
astronomical position and the precise height are yet alike 
unknown On the luerMian of Cumana tlie northern chain 
(that of Cape Codera and the Silla of Caracas) aaain appears. 
Jlie micaceous slate of the peninsula of Araya and Mani- 
quarez joins by the ridge or knot of mountains of Meapire 
tiie soutlmrn chain, that of Pauaquire the Bergantiii Tiiri- 
•I’niTr"’ Guaeharo. This ridge, not more than 
^00 toises ol absolute height, has, in the ancient revolutions 
ot our planet, prevented the irruption of the ocean, and the 
union of the gulfs ot Paria and Carlaco. On tlie west of 
Cape Codera, the northern chain, composed of primitive 
granitic rocks, presents the loftiest summits of the whole 
ordiilera of Venezuela; but the culminant points east of 
that cape, are com))osed in the southern chain, of secondary 
nalc.weous rocks. We have seen above, that the peak of 
Turimiqiiin, at the back of the Coeollar, is 1050 toises. 
V hilo the bottom ot the high valleys of the convent of Caripe, 
and of fauardia de ban Augustin, are 412 and 533 toises of 
absolute height. On the east of the ridge of Meapire, the 
southern chain sinks abruptly towards the Rio Arco and the 
(.uarapiche ; but on quilting the main land, we again see it 
rising on the southern coast of the island of Trinidad, which 
IS but a detached portion of the continent, and of which the 
