OPTICAL ILLUSION. 
389 
heights, formed intermediary spaces between the eye and 
the lower regions. By an illusion easily explained, they 
enlarged the scene, and rendered it more majestic. Trees 
and dwellings appeared at intervals through the openings, 
which were left by the clouds when driven on by the winds, 
and rolling over one another. Objects then appear at a 
greater depth than when seen through a pure and uniformly 
serene air. On the declivity of the mountains of Mexico, at 
the same height (between Las Trancas and Xalapa), the sea 
is twelve leagues distant, and the view of the coast is con- 
fused; while on the road from La Guayra to Caracas we 
command the plains (the tierra caliente), as from the top of 
a tower. How extraordinary must be the impression created 
by this prospect on natives of the inland parts of the country, 
who behold the sea and ships for the first time from this 
point. 
I determined by direct observations the latitude of La 
Yenta, that I might be enabled to give a more precise idea 
of the distance of the coasts. The latitude is L0 Q 33' 9". 
Its longitude appeared to me by the chronometer, nearly 
2' 47" west of the town of Caracas. I found the dip of the 
needle at this height to be 41'75°, and the intensity of the 
magnetic forces equal to two hundred and thirty-four oscil- 
lations. From the Yenta, called also La V 7 enta Grande, to 
distinguish it from three or four small inns formerly esta- 
blished along the road, but now destroyed, there is still an 
ascent of one hundred and fifty toises to Guayavo. This is 
nearly the most lofty point of the road. 
Whether we gaze on the distant horizon of the sea, or 
turn our eyes south-eastward, in the direction of the serrated 
ridge of rocks, which seems to unite the Cumbre and the 
Silla, though separated from them by the ravine (quebrada) 
of Toeume, everywhere we admire the grand character of the 
landscape. From Guayavo we proceed for half an hour over 
a smooth table-land, covered with alpine plants. This part 
of the way, on account of its windings, is called Las Vueltas. 
We find a little higher up the barracks or magazines of flour, 
which were constructed in a spot of cool temperature by the 
Guipuzcoa Company, when they had the exclusive monopoly 
of the trade of Caracas, and supplied that place with provi- 
sion. On the road to Las Vueltas we see for the first time 
