flii SOAP-BEkur, 
28S 
cas, and Guatunala, is that of Capiriqual, Uritucu, and 
OOCOI.U8CO. Since the island of Trinidad lias become an 
■Jinglisn colony, the whole of the eastern extremity of the 
province of Cumana, especially the coast of Faria, and the 
gull of the same name, have changed their appearance 
foreigners have settled there, and have introduced the cul- 
tivation of the coffee-tree, the cotton-tree, and the sugar- 
cane of Otaheite. The population has greatly increased at 
tarupano, in the beautiful valley of Bio Car’ibe, at Guira 
and at the new town of Punta di Piedra, built opposite 
Spanish Harbour, in the island of Triiu'dad. The soil is so 
fertile in the Golfo Triste, that maize yields two harvests in 
the year, and produces three hundred and eighty fold the 
quantity sown. J 
Early in the morning wo embarked in a sort of narrow 
canoe, called a lancha, in hopes of crossing the gulf of 
Cameo during the day The motion of the waters resem- 
bles that of our great lakes, when they are agitated by the 
winds, from the embareadero to C-mana the distance is 
only twelve nautical leagues. On quitting the little town of 
Cameo, we proceeded westward along the river ofCarenicuar 
which, in a straight line like an artificial canal, runs through 
gardens and plantations of cotton-trees. On the banks of the 
river of Cariaco we saw the Indian women washing their 
linen with the fruit of the parapara (Sapindus saponaria, or 
soap-berry), an operation said to be very injurious to the 
linen. The bark of the fruit produces a strong lather ; and 
the fruit is so elastic that if thrown oil a stone it rebounds 
three or four times to the height of seven or eight feet. Being 
of a spherical form, it is employed in making rosaries. 
After we embarked we had’ to contend against contrary 
winds. The rain fell in torrents, and the thunder rolled very- 
near. Swanns of flamingoes, egrets, and cormorants filled the 
air, seeking the shore, whilst the alcatras, a large species of 
pelican^abne continued peaceably to fish in the middle of the 
Sc r . le 8 U “ °* Cariaco is almost everywhere forty-five or 
ntty fathoms deep ; but at its eastern extremity, near Cura- 
guaca, along an extent of five leagues, the lead does not indicate 
nior^ than three or tour fathoms. Here is found the Baxo 
ue la Cotua, a sand-bank, which at low-w : ater appears like a 
small island. The canoes which carry provisions to Cumana 
VOI. I. ■ u 
