Cultivation is here reduced to the provisions of the country. The riches of the inhabitants consist entirely in animals, which they export by the Guarapiche or by the Orinoco to Trinidad.

8. PUNTA DE PIEDRA.-A new town has lately been founded at Punta de Piedra, opposite Spanish Harbour in Trinidad. This, which in 1797 was only a hamlet of fishermen, has become the principal place in the district of Paria, and the residence of a lieutenant-governor.

The town is situate in a magnificent plain, and on a platform which commands the sea, whence there is a view of Port Spain, all the western part of the Island of Trinidad, the Gulf of Paria, and all the vessels that enter or go out of it.

Though the town is not yet considerable by the number and beauty of its edifices, it is nevertheless a most important spot, from the prodigious fertility of its territory, and its fortunate position near the mouths of the Guarapiche and Orinoco, and Port Spain.

At the extremity of the plain, opens the beautiful and fertile valley of Yaguaraparo, covered with plantations of coffee and cocoa. The fertility of its soil and the mildness of its climate, particularly appropriated to the latter plant, have made the fortunes of all the colonists established there.

The provinces of Barcelona and Cumana contain about 100,000 inhabitants, of which

the Indians compose more than one half; 24,000 inhabiting New Andalusia alone, without including the Guaraons of the islands of the Orinoco, who, as it were, command the mouths of this fine river, which extend along the sea-coast for more than sixty leagues.

In 1808, the British government established a post between the Guarapiche and Orinoco near the sea, in order to cut guiacum wood for their navy. They have since erected batteries which command the navigation of those two rivers. The valleys, and above all the banks of the rivers of this part of the province of Cumana, abound in logwood and brazil wood. They there cut those woods at present so necessary to their manufactures.

SECTION VII.

İSLAND OF MARGARITA.

THIS island forms a Government separate from that of Cumana, on whose shores it lies. It is dependant on Caracas. It lies in north latitude 10° 56', and in 64° and 65° west longitude. It is sixteen marine leagues in its greatest length; six in its greatest breadth; in some parts only two or three leagues broad; and its surface is thirty-one square leagues.

VOL. I.

It was first discovered by Columbus in 1498. The pearls found on the coasts of this and the neighbouring isle of Cubagua, soon rendered it famous; and the fishery was carried on at the expense of vast numbers of Indians, who lost their lives in the undertaking.

This island is divided into two parts, which communicate with each other by an isthmus or natural causeway, that is scarcely more than from eighty to one hundred paces broad, and in some parts from ten to twelve feet only above the level of the sea.

The mountain of Macanon is the most elevated of the island. It is above two thousand feet high according to Humboldt, who measured it trigonometrically, and is composed of micaceous schistus. It is an important point for navigators to make who go from Europe, or from North or South America, to Cumana, Barcelona, and La Guayra, as they are obliged to sail between Magarita and the islet of Coche, to avoid running the risk of being carried to leeward by the currents.

The possession of Margarita is an object of some consequence; as it is separated from the continent by a strait only eight leagues wide, and to windward of all the best ports of Caracas. It forms the channel through which all vessels, coming from Europe or windward to Cumana, Barcelona, and La Guayra, must pass. This channel is not navigable in its whole

breadth; the rocky island Coche, between it and the continent, leaving only a narrow pass of two leagues, but which is seldom dangerous, owing to the general calmness that reigns in this part of the Caribbean Sea. Margarita might become, under a system of free commerce, the general entrepot of Cumana, Barcelona, Caracas, Guayra, and all the cities of the interior. The island of Trinidad, much less favourably situate for the accomplishment of this object, has given, notwithstanding, to the Spanish contraband trade all the aid it required, and disposed by this means of an inconceivable quantity of merchandise.

The island of Margarita has three ports. The most important is that of Pampatar, situate on the south-east coast. It is a large and fine basin, in which vessels are defended from winds and tempests. Its entrance is protected on one side by a fortress, and on the other by batteries. Those are the principal fortifications of the island.

Pueblo de la Mar is another port, or to speak more correctly, an open roadstead. It is a place of little trade, and is situate at a league and a half westward of Pampatar.

Pueblo del Norte is, as its name indicates, a village situate in the northern part of the island. A coral reef renders the entrance of this port difficult to mariners who are not accustomed to it. Two batteries defend its entrance against

privateers. Near this port is a village inhabited only by fishermen.

Along the coast of Margarita the land is in general rocky and very steep; but the interior is more fertile, producing maize and fruits, and covered with groves.

Its climate though very hot is wholesome; the greatest inconvenience experienced by the inhabitants being a want of good fresh water.

Asumpcion is the capital of the island, and the residence of the governor. This little town is pretty well built, although its inhabitants are not wealthy; but there is every appearance of comfort and industry in it. It has two parish churches, and a convent of Recollets.

The valleys of San Juan, Santa Margarita, and Los Robles, have each a village which bears their name.

Margarita had, in 1807, a population of eight thousand whites, five thousand five hundred mixed blood, one thousand eight hundred Indians, and about nine hundred Negroes; making a total of 16,200 persons.

This island has only three rivulets, which, however, are sufficiently large to turn mills when such are established. Their waters are limpid. That of the little river which runs by the town of Asumpcion, and which in some places passes over a bed of amphibolic schistus, contains sulphureted iron, magnesia, &c. The inhabitants prefer drinking water from ponds,