CAPE THREE POINTS. 
139 
ward. The motion of the waters which flow through tho 
Boca del Drago, and the action of the tides, occasion an 
eddy. We cast the lead, and found from thirty-six to forty- 
three fathoms on a bottom of very flue green clay. Accord- 
ing to the rules established by Dampier, we ought not to 
have expected so little depth near a coast formed by very 
high ana perpendicular mountains. We continued to heave 
the lead till we reached Cabo de tres Puntas* and we every 
where found shallow water, apparently indicating the pro- 
longation of the ancient coast. In these latitudes the 
temperature of the sea was from twenty-three to twenty-four 
degrees, consequently from l o to two degrees lower than 
in the open ocean, beyond the edge of the bank. 
The Cabo de tres Puntas is, according to my observa- 
tions, in 05° 4' 5' longitude. It seemed to us the more ele- 
vated, as the clouds concealed the view of its indented top. 
The aspect of the mountains of Paria, their colour, and 
especially their generally rounded forms, made us suspect 
that the coast was granitic ; but we afterwards recognized 
how delusive, even to those who have passed their lives in 
scaling mountains, are impressions respecting the nature of 
rocks seen at a distance. 
A dead calm, which lasted several hours, permitted us 
to determine with exactness the intensity of the magnetic 
forces opposite the Cabo de tres Puntas. This intensity 
was greater than in the open sea, to the east of the island of 
Tobago, in the ratio of from 237 to 229. During the calm 
the current drew us on rapidly to the west. Its velocity 
was three miles an hour, and it increased as we approached 
the meridian of Testigos, a heap of rocks which rises up 
amidst the waters. At the setting of the moon, the sky 
was covered with clouds, the wind freshened anew, and 
the rain descended in one of those torrents peculiar to 
the torrid zone. 
The malady which had broken out on board the Pizarro 
had made rapid progress, from the time when we approached 
the coasts of Terra Pinna ; but having then almost reached 
the end of our voyage we flattered ourselves that all who 
vere sick would be restored to health, as soon as we could 
* Jape Three Points, the name given to it by Columbus. 
