The aspect of this country is agreeably diversified by lakes and rivers. Of the lakes, those of Mara caibo and Valencia are the most deserving of no tice. The lake of Maracaibo is of an oblong form, lying north and south, and communicating by a nar row neck with the sea. Its length, from the bar to its southern extremity, is 150 miles. Its greatest breadth is 90, and it is 450 miles in circumference. It is navigable for vessels of the greatest burden ; and though it is not liable to tempests, there is al ways an undulation on its surface ; and when strong breezes blow, more especially from the north, its waves become sufficiently agitated to bury under them canoes and small craft. Its waters are, in ge neral, fresh and fit_ for drinking ; but, at times, the waters of the sea are forced, by means of storms, towards the lake, and it then becomes brackish as far as the town of Maracaibo. All the different species of fish which are found in the rivers of South America, With the exception of the tortoise, abound in this lake ; but the general sterility of the adja cent country, and the unhealthy atmosphere which is occasioned by noxious exhalations from its waters, are unfavourable to the progress of cultivation; so that the Indians, in place of making their abode on its shores, have generally dwelt on the lake it self, in wooden huts, constructed for the purpose. To the north-west of the lake is an inexhaustible mine of mineral pitch, which is of so inflammable a nature that during the night, and especially in hot weather, phosphoric fires are continually seen, which have the appearance of lightning. These fires are known by the name of the lanterns of Maracaibo, and they serve as a light-house and compass to guide the course of the Spaniards and Indians who are na vigating the lake.
The lake of Valencia, though not of' the same magnitude as Lake Maracaibo, presents a far more le and interesting spectacle. Its shores, in agreeable being arid and unhealthy, are clothed with all the luxuriant vegetation of the tropical regions, and the temperature is mild and salubrious. This lake is about one league distant from the city of Valencia, and about 18 miles from the sea. It is of an oblong form, stretching north-east and south west, and is about 40 miles in length, and about la in the broadest part. It is situated in a valley sur rounded with high and inaccessible mountains, es cepting on the west, where extends into the fate.
rior ; and it receives the waters of twenty rivers, • without any visible outlet. This circumstance has given occasion to the conjecture, that its waters must be discharged by a subterraneous passage ; and, in • confirmation of this hypothesis, it is stated by De pons, that the boats which navigate the lake sail with rapidity from the shores to the centre, but it requires longer time and greater exertion to re turn from the centre towards the shore. How far • this conjecture is well-founded, seems. extremely doubtful. The contributions from so many rivers may be no more than sufficient to supply the drain occasioned by the constant and intense evaporation of a tropical 6Uil ; and, at any rate, until this ques tion is determined by accurate investigation, it seems idle to have recourse to the supposition of subter raneous channels to account for what may be the result of more obvious causes. One fact is certain, ' that, of late years, the waters of the lake have expe rienced a considerable depression, and they still continue receding within a narrower space. This is sufficiently accounted for by the progress of cultiva- • tion throughout the country, in consequence of which the cultivators draw an increased supply of water from the streams which flow into the lake, in order to irrigate and refresh their different planta tions. In proportion as the waters recede, tracts of •
ground are left uncovered, which, having received for • centuries past the deposited slime and substances of the lake, have thence acquired a prodigious fertility. These spots are eagerly selected for cultivation, and they reward the labours of the planter with a large re turn. The eastern shores of the lake are laid out for • the culture of tobacco in five plantations, which occupy 15,000 persons, and the remainder of the lands which surround it are employed in raising other productions. peculiar to the country. The woods in the vicinity afford a haunt to numerous varieties of birds, whichare equally distinguished by the brilliancy of their plumage, and the melody of their notes. Reptiles are also common. Among these are two species of lizards, which are considered by the Indians and Spaniards as delicious food, and which are eagerly sought after. The waters of the lake are thick and' of a nauseous taste, which is ascribed by Depons to the putrefaction of animal and vegetable substan ces. Its surface is diversified by numerous islands, by which its navigation is somewhat impeded. Most of these are inhabited, and yield abundance•of pro-. visions, fruits, and vegetables.
The abundant rains, which fall in the. Caracessi find their way to the ocean by a variety of channels, and there is, accordingly, no country which hi watered by more numerous streams. Every valley has its rivers, and if they are not all of sufficient size to answer the purposes of navigation, they ford ample suppliei of water for the necessary pur pose of irrigating the grounds which are cultivated along their shores. All the streams which rise on the northern ridge of the mountains in. the interior run from south to north, and fall into the Carribbean Sea, while those which have their sources in the southern declivity of the same range of - moun tains, traversein a southern direction the whole lent of the intermediate plain, till they reach the majestic stream of the Orinoco. The principal rivers which flow northward into the Carribean Sea are- the Ossiges, Tocuyo, Aroa, Yaracuy, Tuy, Ne yeti, Mansanares. These are so strongly fenced in by the natural barriers of high banks, and the ground at the same time forms such a continued declivity, that they seldom overflow the adjacent country to any extent, so as to occasion damage. The most considerable rivers which fall into the Orinoco are the Mame, the Pariagon and Pao, the Chivata and Zoo, the Cachiinamo, the Aracay, the Manapira and Espino, and, lastly, the great river Apure, which enters the Orinoco by several channels. This river receives an immense variety of smaller streams, and ia, indeed, the only channel by which all the lesser rivers, which rise in the extensive tract of country through which it flows, are conveyed to the Orinoco. During the rainy season, its waters, near its month, are spread ever the flat country, which it traverses to an extent of nearly 96 miles ; and, in general, all the rivers of this province, which flow through level grounds, overflow, during part of the year, a large tract of the adjacent country. This inundation co IMO a larger space as the rivers approach the ocean. Near the mouth of the Orinoco, one vast sea of fresh water is spread ever the country to an extent, according to Deposes, of nearly 200 leagues. The rise of the rivers .commences in April, and ends in August, mud during the .subsequent month of Sep teethe*, there is no perceptible fall in the waters of the Orinoco. About the beginning of October they begin to retire from the fiat country, and by the end of-February the river has reached its lowest point.