Though the air felt quite calm at the height of nine or ten feet, they were frequently enveloped in whirlwinds of dust, caused by little currents of air that swept along the ground. About four o'clock in the afternoon, they found an Indian girl, twelve or thirteen years of age, lying on her back. She was naked, and in a state of total exhaustion, having a pitcher overturned, and half filled with sand, lying by her side. They roused her by washing her face, and forcing her to drink a few drops of wine. She was at first frightened at seeing so many persons around her; but, by degrees, she took courage and conversed with the guides. She could not, however, be prevailed with to return to a farm which she had left. Her master, she said, had discharged her, because, at the end of a long sickness, he had found she was less able to work than before. The menaces, and the entreaties of the travellers to induce her to return, were equally fruitless. Insensible to suffering, she persisted in her resolution of going to one of the Indian missions, in the vicinity of Calabozo. The travellers took the sand out of her pitcher, and filled it with water, after which she resumed her way.

During the night they forded the Uritucu, a river which is infested by a breed of crocodiles that are remarkable for their ferocity. The travellers were advised to prevent their dogs from going to drink in the river, as it often happens that the crocodiles come out of the water and pursue the dogs on the shore. They were shown a hut, or rather a kind of shed, in which the person in whose house they had resided at Calabozo, had witnessed a very extraordinary scene. He was sleeping with a friend on a bench covered with leather, when, early in the morning, he was awakened by violent shakes and an horrible noise. Clods of earth were thrown into the middle of the hut, presently a young crocodile issued from under the bed, darted at a dog that lay on the threshold of the door, and, missing him in the impetuosity of his spring, he ran toward the beach to attain the river. On examining the spot where

the bedstead was placed, the cause of this strange adventure was easily discovered. The ground was disturbed to a considerable depth. It was dried mud that had covered the crocodile, in that state of summer sleep, in which many of the species lie during the absence of the rains. The noise of men and horses, perhaps the smell of the dog, had awakened the crocodile. The hut having been near the edge of the pool, and inundated during part of the year, the crocodile had, no doubt, entered, at the time of the inundation of the savannas, by the same opening through which it had been seen to go out.

The travellers passed the Guarico, and encamped on a savanna beyond it. Enormous bats hovered over their hammocks during great part of the night. Early in the morning they pursued their way over low grounds that had been often inundated; and, on the 27th of March, arrived at the village of San Fernando, the capital of the mission of the Capuchins, in the province of Varinas. This was the termination of their journey over the plains.

Thirteenth Day's Instruction.

TERRA FIRMA CONCLUDED.

Maracaibo-Santa Martha-Carthagena-Darien, or Panama-Popayan, and New Granada.

THE provinces of Cumana and Caraccas, and the principal places they contain, have already been described. We will now proceed westward from Caraccas, and enter Maracaibo.

Maracaibo.

This province is included within the capitania general of Caraccas. It surrounds an extensive lake of

the same name, which was that of a cacique, or Indian prince, who anciently ruled there. The soil is barren, and the climate hot and unhealthy.

The Lake of Maracaibo is about a hundred and fifty miles in length, and ninety in its greatest width. It communicates, by a narrow passage, with the Gulf of Venezuela and the sea, and is navigable by vessels of the greatest burthen. Except in the parts that are near the sea, the waters of this lake are fresh, and fit for drinking. On the north-eastern border of it there is an inexhaustible vein of mineral pitch, the bituminous vapours issuing from which are so easily inflamed that, during the night, phosphoric fires are continually seen. These, which are more frequent in hot than in cool weather, are named the " lantern of Maracaibo," because they serve as a beacon to such persons as navigate the lake. The sterility of the soil, and the noxious atmosphere of the borders of the lake, discourage culture and population. Hence the Indians of this part of the country have been more desirous to fix their habitations on the lake itself than on its banks. They drive stakes into the water, and on these construct their huts. When the Spaniards first arrived at Maracaïbo, they found, on the water, several villages, built without order or design, but with considerable solidity. Hence they gave to these villages the appellation of Venezuela, or "Little Venice," an appellation which has since been transferred to the whole province. There are now only four of the villages left. These have a church upon the water, under the superintendance of a curate. The inhabitants occasionally go on shore in quest of provisions; but their chief subsistence is derived from fishing and catching wild-ducks. The latter pursuit is thus conducted. They always have, floating upon the lake, and particularly around their habitations, a considerable number of empty calabashes: the intention of this is that the ducks may not be alarmed at the sight of them. When an Indian wants to catch any of these birds, he thrusts his head into a calabash, bored

in such a manner as to enable him to see without being seen. Thus equipped, no part of his body being visible, he swims to the place where the ducks are feeding. He then catches them by the legs, and draws them suddenly under water, before they have time to quack, or to make any movement which might warn their com panions of the danger that threatens them. He ties the birds to his belt as he catches them, and does not retire till he has fully supplied his wants.

On the sea-coast, at the distance of some leagues eastward from the lake of Maracaïbo, is the city of Coro. There was formerly a great commercial establishment at this place, and, until the foundation of Caraccas, Coro was considered the capital of Venezuela. It is situated in a dry, sandy, and sterile plain, destitute of water. Three leagues from the city are some hills, where the inhabitants cultivate, though not in abundance, the various productions of the country. The traffic that is now carried on is chiefly in mules, goats, hides, sheepskins, cheese, and some other articles, which are brought chiefly from the interior of the country, and shipped at Coro for the West India islands. Few slaves are seen in Coro, nearly all the labour being performed by Indians, and at very low wages. The houses have been well built, but most of them are now going to decay. The public edifices consecrated to religion consist of one parish church, a monastery, where there are seven or eight monks, and three chapels of ease to the parish church. There was formerly a cathedral, but though Coro is still called a city, it has neither a bishop nor chapter.

If we direct our course southward from Coro for about ninety miles, we reach Carora, a tolerably well built town, on the banks of the river Morera, and in a situation which is peculiarly healthy. The soil, however, on which it stands, is barren, being covered with thorny plants, and yielding few vegetable productions that are useful to mankind; yet the inhabitants contrive to keep a great number of oxen, mules, sheep, and

goats, the skins of which constitute an important article of trade. The streets of Carora are wide, and built in straight lines; and the parish church is a handsome structure. The administration of justice and police is in the hands of a lieutenant governor and common council.

From Carora we proceed over a mountainous country to Truxillo, a town situated in a narrow valley, and so enclosed by mountains as to have the shape of a coffin. It contains a parish church, two monasteries, and a nunnery. The land around it produces sugar, cacao_or chocolate-nuts, indigo, coffee, and nearly all the other productions of the torrid zone. Wheat grows here extremely well, and its flour differs little either in quality or excellence from that of Europe. The air of this place is salubrious, and the soil fertile. The inhabitants breed sheep and goats, and make a considerable quantity of cheese.

At the distance of about one hundred miles east of Truxillo is Barquisimeto, a handsome town, situated on a plain so elevated that, although it is within nine degrees of the equator, it enjoys all the coolness of a temperate climate. In the plains, the valleys, and rising grounds by which this town is surrounded, the inhabitants find sufficient space, not only to apply their industry, but to gratify their taste. Many of them feed cattle; some cultivate sugar-canes or wheat, and others chocolate or coffee.

From Barquisimeto, if we proceed in a south-westerly direction for about a hundred and twenty miles, we arrive at the city of Varinas. This place is about sixty miles south of Truxillo. In the year 1787 it was detached from the government of Maracaibo, to which it had previously belonged, and was itself made the seat of a separate government. It is watered by a river that runs south into the Oronoko, and it enjoys a tolerably pure atmosphere, though the heat which generally prevails is very great. The houses are indifferently built, and the only public edifices are a parish church