existed at the small island of Tortuga, where the soil is strongly impregnated with muriat of soda, was destroyed by order of the Spanish government. A canal was made, by which the sea has free access to the salt marshes. Foreign nations who have colonies in the West Indies, frequented this uninhabited island; and the court of Madrid, from views of suspicious policy, was apprehensive that the salt works of Tortuga would have given rise to settlements, by means of which an illicit trade would have been carried on with Tierra Firme.

A few huts are established on the peninsula of Araya, where the Indians keep large flocks of goats. This stripe of land was the first place where the Spaniards began to found a town; and it contains springs and masses of petroleum; this substance existing also on its coasts at Cape de la Brea, Punta Soto, and Guararito. A stream of naphtha issues from the bed of the sea near these shores, and forms a visible spot, 1000 feet in diameter, among the weeds with which the beach is covered.

SECTION VI.

THE OTHER TOWNS OF NEW ANDALUSIA AND

NEW BARCELONA.

1. NEW BARCELONA, the chief town of the province of the same name, is situate in a plain on the left bank of the river Neveri, half a league distant from the sea, in 10° 10′ north latitude, and 64° 47' west longitude. It is twelve leagues from Cumana in a direct line; but the windings which it is necessary to make to avoid bad roads, make it a journey of twenty hours. It is reckoned ten marine leagues by sea from the port of Barcelona to that of Cumana.

On ascending on the east side of the river, about four miles from its mouth, we observe, on an eminence which bears the name of the city, a fort erected for the protection of vessels which anchor not far from it, in a bay so shallow as not to be capable of admitting vessels of considerable size. This port, if it may be so called, affords no shelter but against the breeze: but at the distance of one league to the north, the island of Borracha, inhabited by fishermen, presents, on its south side, a safe harbour for ships of the largest size.

From the hill of Barcelona, the coast runs to the north-east, as far as Cumana, which is

at the distance of two leagues. That space is filled with a chain of islands not far removed from the coast. Some of these are provided with bays and ports; but they are of no great

consequence.

Barcelona has a population of fourteen thousand souls, a single parish church, and an hospital for the Franciscans who support the missions of this part. It is neither handsomely nor agreeably constructed. Its unpaved streets are extremely muddy in rainy weather; and in dry seasons they are covered with a dust so light that the least breath raises it in the air. The immense quantity of hogs fed there, induce in the city a number of stinking and infectious sties, which corrupt the air and frequently create diseases. In 1803, however, the commandant of the place took measures for removing from the town an infection which could not but poison its residence.

This town had, in 1807, a population of 15,000 persons; half whites and half Mulattoes and Negroes.

Alcedo, with his usual negligence, says that the climate of Barcelona is more unhealthy than that of Cumana. It is exactly the reverse: the climate of Cumana is very healthy, though hot, because it is extremely dry; and that of the town of Barcelona unhealthy, from the opposite causes.

Cultivation is exceedingly neglected at Barcelona and its environs. The valleys best

cultivated are those of Capirimal and Brigantin. There are others equally fertile, which remain totally neglected; and altogether they do not yield above three thousand quintals of cacao, and some little cotton.

In the jurisdiction of Barcelona commence those immense plains, which stretch with those of Caracas as far south as the Orinoco. They are covered with excellent pasturage, and feed innumerable herds of cattle and mules, which are mostly kept on the banks of the rivers. Such immense quantities were killed before the Revolution, that the trade was at one time very considerable, the inhabitants of Barcelona being noted for their skill in salting meat; but just after the first symptoms of this struggle, the plains became infested with robbers, who deprived the owners of their beasts, and greatly lessened the value of the trade. Hides, tallow, oxen, mules, jirked and salted beef, consequently form the great commercial articles of this port. This trade is chiefly carried on with the Havannah and West India Islands.

Barcelona is also the emporium for the contraband goods of Trinidad; and hence they are dispersed through all the inland provinces. The value of this trade has been computed at 400,000 dollars annually.

Barcelona has been fortified by having a small fort erected on an eminence on the right bank of the Neveri, about 400 feet above the

sea.

But this is commanded on the south by a more lofty hill.

2. CARIACO. As we proceed to the east of Cumana, the first object which attracts our attention is the Gulf of Cariaco, formed by a part of the coast of Cumana, the Point of Araya, and the Barrigon. It extends ten leagues from east to west, and is three (in some places four) leagues broad. Its depth, at the middle of the Gulf, is from 80 to 100 fathoms. Its waters are as placid as those of the lake: the reason is, that it is protected by the mountains which surround it from all other winds except the sea breeze; but to that it is left entirely exposed, and consequently must experience an agitation of its waters proportioned to the strength of the breeze. This Gulf offers, in all parts of its coast, good anchorage, and natural wharfs convenient for shipping. On each side, the land presents two amphitheatres, ornamented with the most beautiful and varied vegetation, and a cultivated landscape. At the bottom of the Gulf, to the east, is the fine plain of Cariaco, watered by the navigable river of the same name. At a mile and a half from its mouth is the town, or rather the large village of Cariaco, which, in the Spanish official papers, bears the name of San Felipe de Austria.

The plain of Cariaco is filled with plantations, huts, and groups of cocoa and palms. The hill behind the town is named Buenavista. This