284 
GEOLOGIC PHENOMENA 
part of the inhabitants suffering from intermittent fever ; a 
disease which in autumn assumes a formidable character. 
When we consider the extreme fertility of the surrounding 
plains, their moisture, and the mass of vegetation with which 
they are covered, we may easily conceive why, amidst so 
much decomposition of organic matter, the inhabitants do 
not enjoy that salubrity of air which characterizes the cli- 
mate of Cumana. 
The chain of calcareous mountains of the Brigantine and 
the Cocollar sends off a considerable branch to the north, 
which joins the primitive mountains of the coast. This 
branch bears the name of Sierra de Meapire; but towards 
the town of Cariaco it is called Cerro Grande de Curiaco. 
Its mean height did not appear to be more than 150 or 200 
toises. It was composed, where I could examine it, of the 
calcareous breccias of the sea-coast. Marly and calcareous 
beds alternate with other beds containing grains of quartz. 
It is a very strilring phenomenon for those who study the 
physical aspect of a country, to see a transverse ridge con- 
nect at right angles two parallel ridges, of which one, the 
more southern, is composed of secondary rocks, and the 
other, the more northern, of primitive rocks. The latter 
presents, nearly as far as the meridian of Campano, onlv 
mica-slate ; but to the east of this point, where it communi- 
cates by a transverse ridge (the Sierra de Meapire) with the 
limestone range, it contains lamellar gypsum, compact lime- 
stone, and other rocks of secondary formation. It might 
be supposed that the southern ridge has transferred these 
rocks to the northern chain. 
When standing on the summit of the Cerro del Meapire, 
we see. the mountain c indents flow on one side to the gulf 
of Paria, and on the other to the gulf of Cariaco. East 
and west of the ridge there are low and marshy grounds, 
spreading out without interruption ; and if it be admitted 
that both gulls owe their origin to the sinking of the earth, 
and to rents caused by earthquakes, we must suppose that 
the Cerro de Meapire has resisted the convulsive movements 
of the globe, and hindered the waters of the gulf of Paria 
from uniting with those of the gulf of Cariaco. But for 
this rocky dyke, the isthmus itself in all probability would 
nave had no existence; and from the castle of Araya as far as 
