160 
pout or c omasa. 
the country, of the extreme dryness of the season, of the 
abundant rains in the neighbouring districts, and particularly 
of the extravagancies of which the ladies of Cumana accuse 
those of the Caracas and the Havannah. The company were 
under no apprehensions from the bavas, or small crocodiles, 
which are now extremely scarce, and which approach men 
without attacking them. These animals are three or four 
feet fong. We never met with them in the Manzanares, but 
with a great number of dolphins (toninas), which sometimes 
ascend the river in the night, and frighten the bathers by 
spouting water. 
The port of Cumana is a roadstead capable of receiving 
the fleets of Europe. The whole of the Gulf of Cariaco, 
which is about 35 miles long and 48 broad, affords excellent 
anchorage. The Pacific is not more calm on the shores of 
Peru, than the Caribbean Sea from Porto-cabello, and espe- 
cially from Cape Codera to the point of Paria. The hurri- 
canes of the West Indies are never felt in these regions. 
The only danger in the port of Cumana is a shoal, called 
Morro Eoxo. There are from one to three fathoms water 
on this shoal, while just beyond its edges there are eighteen, 
thirty, and even thirty-eight. The remains of an old bat- 
tery, situated north-north-east of the castle of San Antonio, 
and very near it, serve as a mark to avoid the bank of Morro 
lloxo. 
The city lies at the foot of a hill destitute of verdure, and 
is commanded by a castle. No steeple or dome attracts 
from afar the eye of the traveller, hut only a few trunks of 
tamarind, cocoa, and date trees, which rise above the houses, 
the roofs of which are flat. The surrounding plains, espe- 
cially those on the coasts, wear a melancholy, dusty, and 
arid appearance, while a fresh and luxuriant vegetation 
marks from afar the windings of the river, which separates 
the city from the suburbs ; the population of European and 
mixed race from the copper-coloured natives. The hill of 
fort San Antonio, solitary, white, and hare, reflects a great 
mass of light, and of radiant heat : it is composed of brec- 
cia, the strata of which contain numerous fossils. In the 
distance, towards the south, stretches a vast and gloomy cur- 
tain of mountains. These are the high calcareous Alps of 
New Andalusia, surmounted by sandstone, and other more 
