of Darien, and in running through the Isthmus of Panama are nearly lost. After passing the Isthmus, they again begin to evince their majestic forms; and, dividing what is commonly called North from South America, they enter the province of Veragua.

In Cundinamarca, the main chain separates itself into parallel ridges, three of which exist between 2° 30', and 5° 15′ of north latitude...

The eastern ridge divides the great river Magdalena from the plains of the Meta: none of its summits are covered with snow. The central ridge separates the Magdalena from the Rio Cauca: this is the most lofty of the three, and its most elevated peaks enter the region of eternal frost; the three highest are named Quindiu, Baragan, and Guanacas. The western ridge separates the Rio Cauca from the province of Choco: it attains scarcely 4500 feet in altitude, and nearly loses itself in the province of Darien.

These three ridges unite in the district of Pastos in Popayan, and continue single till they have passed the equator; when they again separate themselves into two parallel chains, in the province of Quito, by a valley near their summits. It is here that they are seen in their most sublime forms-Chimborazo, Pichincha, Illinissa, Antisana, and Cotopaxi, ascending to the very skies, their white cones being beauti

fully contrasted with the dark blue of the surrounding firmament.

Two secondary chains are thrown out in this part of South America. The first of these is in the northern part of Cundinamarca and Caracas; the second is known by the name of the Cordillera of the Cataracts of the Orinoco.

The first branch, or Cordillera of Cundinamarca and Caracas, bends eastward from the river Atrato, forming the Sierra of Abibé, and of Cauca, and the high plains of Tolu, and crosses the river Magdalena. It then forms a narrow chain along the coast to Cape Vela, where it separates into two parallel ridges; but joining again, and forming lofty summits, it stretches along the whole of Caracas, and loses itself in the Atlantic Ocean, at the Cape of Paria. Its highest points are in the provinces of Santa Marta and Merida. The Nevada of the former is 16,000 feet, and that of the latter 15,000 in altitude, their heads being constantly enveloped in snow. Those parallel ridges form vast plains between their summits, elevated to great heights above the sea; the plain of the Caracas being 2660 feet in height.

The greatest elevation of this chain, after it crosses the boundary between Cundinamarca and Caracas, is near the metropolis of the latter government, where the Silla de Caracas raises itself to the height of 8420 feet, and forms an enormous precipice fronting the Ca

ribbean Sea. Indeed, the coast of Caracas, which extends for an immense length, affords views of some of the most tremendous precipices in the world. The chain of the Andes, traversing the whole territory in the direction of its shores, elevates itself most, however, in the western parts, and is lost in the sea opposite to the island of Trinidad, which is itself very mountainous.-The average height of the Cordillera of Caracas may be estimated at 4500 feet, though it occasionally exceeds 8000; its breadth varies from ten to twenty leagues; and it forms some extensive and beautiful valleys.

The second branch of the Andes, called the Cordillera of the Cataracts of the Orinoco, extends itself from the great chain eastward between the 3d and 6th degrees of north latitude, where the high plains of Tuquillo and St Martin, with the peaks of Cavanami and Umama, are formed. It contains the sources of the Guaviari, the Meta, Zama, and Ymerida rivers, and forms the tremendous cataracts of Maypuré and Aturé. Beyond these it acquires still greater elevation, and occupies an immense space, stretching southward to the boundaries of the Portuguese dominions, where it is lost in vast and nearly impenetrable tracts of woody country, over which no European has ever trod. In this gloomy country exist the sources of the magnificent Orinoco, which

have never been seen either by the civilized Indians or by the Spaniards. The chain has again been observed issuing from forests farther to the eastward. There, however, it is neither so elevated nor so broad, and is called Sierra de Quineropaca and Pacaraimo, near the Lake of Parimé and the Amazons. It again extends its breadth a few degrees farther east, and bends southwards along the Mao, where the hill of Ucucuamo is said to be formed of shining yellow mica, which deceived those travellers who fancied they at last found a mountain of gold. From this hill, called El Dorado, or the Golden Mountain, the branch stretches eastwards towards the mountains of French Guiana, where its form is little known, as the interior of that country is inhabited by Caribs and Negroes, who keep the settlers at bay. The rivers of Berbice, Surinam, Marony, and Essequibo, rise in this part of the chain.

The mountain of Duida is the highest point which has yet been seen of the Cordillera of the Cataracts. This volcano has not hitherto been explored; but its height has been found to be 8465 feet above the sea. The Cordillera of the Cataracts is remarkable for the abrupt descent of its southern face.

These branches form three immense plains between their bases, open to the southern Atlantic Ocean on the east, and shut out from the

Pacific by the great trunk of the Andes on the

west.

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The most northerly of these plains is the Plain of the Orinoco, noted for its luxuriant herbage, and possessing only a few scattered trees. This great plain bounds the Cordillera to the south, and far from possessing those elevated lands which characterize the southern portion of the New World, nature has here spread the country into immense flats, or savannahs, known by the name of Los Llanos, (the Plains). In these plains innumerable herds of cattle are fed, attended by the servants of the owners, who reside in the towns and villages.

SECTION III.

ITS GENERAL ASPECT.

HUMBOLDT, speaking of this generally, says, "When a traveller newly arrived from Europe penetrates for the first time into the forests of South America, nature presents herself to him under an unexpected aspect. The objects that surround him recall but feebly those pictures which celebrated writers have traced on the banks of the Mississippi, in Florida, and in