150 
FEEPAEATIONS FOE OUE VOYAGE. 
that indicate a reflux, an abrupt and instantaneous rupture, 
of equilibrium in the’ aerial ocean. 
We have here discussed one of the most important phe* 
nomena of the meteorology of the tropics, considered in its 
most general view. In the same manner as the limits of the 
trade-winds do not form circles parallel with the equator, the 
action of the polar currents is variously felt in different 
meridians. The chains of mountains and the coasts in the 
same hemisphere have often opposite seasons. There are 
several examples of these anomalies ; but, in order to dis- 
cover the laws of nature, we must know, before we examine 
into the causes of local perturbations, the average state of 
the atmosphere, and the constant type of its variations. 
The aspect of the sky, the progress of the electricity, and 
the shower of the 28th of March, announced the commence- 
ment of the rainy season ; we were still advised, however, to 
go from San Fernando de Apure by San Francisco de Capa- 
naparo, the Rio Sinaruco, and the Hato de San Antonio, to 
the village of the Ottomacs, recently founded near the 
hanks of the Meta, and to embark on the Orinoco a little 
above Caricliana. This way by land lies across an unhealthy 
and feverish country. An old farmer named Francisco San- 
chez obligingly offered to conduct us. His dress denoted 
the great simplicity of manners prevailing in those distant 
countries. He had acquired a fortune of more than 100,000 
piastres, and yet he mounted on horseback with his feet bare, 
and wearing large silver spurs- We knew by the experience 
of several weeks the dull uniformity of the vegetation of the 
Llanos, and preferred the longer road, which leads by the 
Kio Apure to the Orinoco. We chose one of those very large 
canoes called lanckas by the Spaniards. A pilot and four 
Indians were sufficient to manage it. They constructed, 
near the stern, in the space of a few hours, a cabin covered 
with palm-leaves, sufficiently spacious to contain a table 
and benches. These were made of ox-hides, strained tight, 
and nailed to frames of brazil-wood. I mention these mi- 
nute circumstances, to prove that our accommodations on 
the Rio Apure were far different from those to which we 
were afterwards reduced in the narrow boats of the Orinoco. 
Wc loaded the canoe with provision for a month. Fowls, 
eggs, plantains, cassava, and cacao, are found in abundance 
