46 
POPULATION OP POETO OAP.ELLO. 
former, though considered only as its suburb. The bottom 
of the basin or lake which forms the harbour of Porto 
Cabello, turns behind this suburb to the south-west. It is 
a marshy ground filled with noisome and stagnant water. 
The town, which has at present nearly nine thousand inha- 
bitants, owes its origin to an illicit commerce, attracted to 
these shores by the proximity of the town of Burburata, 
which was founded in 1549. It is only since the adminis- 
tration of the Biscayans, and of the company of Guipuzcoa, 
that Porto Cabello, which was but a hamlet, has been 
converted into a well-fortified town. The vessels of La 
Guayra, which is less a port than a bad open roadstead, 
come to Porto Cabello to be caulked and repaired. 
The real defence of the harbour consists in the low bat- 
teries on the neck of land at Punta Brava, and on the reef; 
but from ignorance of this principle, a new fort, the Mira- 
dor of Solano* has been constructed at a great expense, on 
the mountains commanding the suburb towards the south. 
More than ten thousand mules are annually exported from 
Porto Cabello. It is curious enough to see these animals 
embarked; they are thrown down with ropes, and then 
hoisted on board the vessels bv means of a machine resem- 
bling a crane. Banged in two files, the mules with difficulty 
keep their footing during the rolling and pitching of the ship ; 
and in order to frighten and render them more docile, a 
drum is beaten during a great part of the day and night. 
We may guess what quiet a passenger enjoys, who has the 
courage to embark for J amaica in a schooner laden with 
mules. 
We left Porto Cabello on the first of March, at sunrise. 
We saw with surprise the great number of boats that were 
laden with fruit to be sold at the market. It reminded me 
of a fine morning at Venice. The town presents in general, 
on the side towards the sea, a cheerful and agreeable aspect. 
Mountains covered with vegetation, and crowned with 
peaks called Las Tetas de Ilaria, which, from their outline 
would be taken for rocks of a trap-formation, form the 
background of the landscape. Near the coast all is bare, 
white, and strongly illumined, while the screen of mountains 
* The Mirador is situate eastward oi the Vigia Alta, aad south-east ol 
the battery of the salt -works and the powder-mill. 
