ss 
MOUNTAINS OB TACARIGUA. 
particularly from the valley of the Rio Mucuju,* to the east 
of Merida. The inhabitants altogether neglect this produc- 
tion, so much sought for in commerce. 
Chapter XVII. 
Mountains which separate the Valleys of Aragua from the Llanos of 
Caracas. — Villa de Cura. — Parapara. — Llanos or Steppes. — Calabozo. 
The chain of mountains, bordering the lake of Tacarigua 
towards the south, forms in some sort the northern shore of 
the great basin of the Llanos or savannahs of Caracas. To 
descend from the valleys of Aragua into these savannahs, it 
is necessary to cross the mountains of Ghiigue and of Tucu- 
tuneino. From a peopled country embellished by culti- 
vation, we plunge into a vast solitude. Accustomed to the 
aspect of rocks, and to the shade of valleys, the traveller 
beholds with astonishment these savannahs without trees, 
these immense plains, which seem to ascend to the horizon. 
Before I trace the scenery of the Llanos, or of the region 
of pasturage, I will briefly describe the road we took 
from Nueva Valencia, by Villa de Cura and San Juan, to 
the little village of Ortiz, at the entrance of the steppes. 
We left the valleys of Aragua on the 6th of March before 
sunrise. We passed over a plain richly cultivated, keeping 
along the south-west side of the lake of Valencia, and cross- 
ing the ground left uncovered by the waters of the lake. 
We were never weary of admiring the fertility of the soil, 
covered with calabashes, water-melons, and plantains. The 
rising of the sun was announced by the distant noise of the 
howling monkeys. Approaching a group of trees, which rise 
in the midst of the plain, between those parts which were 
anciently the islets of Don Pedro and La Negra, we saw 
numerous bands of araguatos moving as in procession and 
very slowly, from one tree to another. A male was followed 
by a great number of females; several of the latter carrying 
* This little river descends from the Paramo de los Conejos, and flovp 
mto the Rio Albarregas. 
