FLOODS IN THE SAVANNAHS. 
13 * 
Polyhedron, formed of planes variously inclined, we may 
conceive by the mere inspection of the maps, that the inter- 
section of these slopes, rising towards the north, the west, 
and south,* between San Fernando de Apure, Caycara, and 
the mouth of the Meta, must cause a considerable depres- 
sion. The savannahs in this basin are covered with twelve 
or . fourteen feet of water, and present, at the period of 
r ®s, the aspect of a great lake. The farms and villages 
'"hich seem as if situated on shoals, scarcely rise two 
or three feet above the surface of the water. Everything 
here calls to mind the inundations of Lower Egypt, and the 
hike of Xarayes, heretofore so celebrated among geogra- 
phers, though it exists only dining some months of tho year, 
the swellings of the rivers Apure, Meta, and Orinoco, are 
also periodical. In the rainy season, the horses that wander 
111 the savannah, and have not time to reach tho rising 
grounds of the Llanos, perish by hundreds. The mares are 
® ee a, followed by their colts, t swimming during a part of 
he day to feed upon the grass, the tops of which alone 
,". ave above the waters. In this state they are pursued by 
he crocodiles, and it is by no means uncommon to find the 
of the teeth of these carnivorous reptiles on their 
highs. The carcases of horses, mules, and cows, attract an 
innumerable quantity of vultures. The zamuros are the 
hisis of this country, and they render the same service to 
he inhabitants of the Llanos as the Vultur perenopterus 
°'ttr e * u kabitants of Egypt. 
. ”6 cannot reflect on the effects of these inundations 
nhout admiring the prodigious pliability of the organiza- 
of the animals which man has subjected to his sway. 
Av | Greenland the dog eats the refuse of the fisheries ; and 
ien fish are wanting, feeds on seaweed. Tho ass and the 
of . 118 ris wgs towards the north and west are connected with two lines 
slope gSS ’ the mountains of Villa de Cura and of Merida. The third 
the A ri l nu ' n g from north to south, is that of the land-strait between 
tion f 68 UIH * ti |e chain of Parime. It determines the general inclina- 
Ap U rg Orinoco, from the mouth of the Guaviare to that of the 
*t* Tl 
are So 16 oolts are drowned everywhere in large numbers, because they 
'■'here '.'i' 61 ', , ’ rei * °f swimming, and strive to follow the mares in placet 
■ 6 latter alone can touch the ground. 
