On all the northern coast, as far as the Cape of Paria, which, with the Isles of the Dragons, forms the great entrance of the Gulf of Pavia, ricA, a single navigable ri ver is to be found. Of those which discharge them sel•es into the Gulf, the most considerable is the Gu.s li PI C•11 E. This river, rising in the eastern declivity of Mount Ilrigantin, is swelled by many streams of consi derable magnitude, so that it rolls towards the Gulf with all the majesty of a river of the first rank. To vessels of ordinary size, it is navigable as far as the Fork of Fan :arm:L. Bey ond that, the navigation is impeded, not so touch by the shallowness of the river, as by the man groves and trees which are thrown into it by the wind, or deposited by the currents.
These rivers are joined by an infinite number of small er streams, yet they water only the high or northern part of the provinces of Venezuela and Cumana, and do not amount to the twentieth part of the rivers which proceed directly to the sea. The southern, or low part of Ve nezuela, is intersected by others which flow from north to south, till they discharge themselves into the great Oronoko. Of these, the most considerable are the Ala in°, the Pariagoin and Pao, the Chivata and Zoa, the Carl 'imam°, the .1racay, the AIanapira and Espino. In this enumeration, however, the first place must be given to the Apura. After receiving the waters of innumerable tributary streams, which form altogether the figure of a fan, occupying a space of upwards of thirty leagues, this river discharges its mighty flood by several channels into the Oronoko. Most of these rivers are navigable for forty or fifty leagues, affording the most animating anticipation of the future prosperity of the country through which they flow, w when its inhabitants, more enlightened and industrious, shall have learned to appreciate and to im prove the advantages which nature so profusely bestows.
The only lakes in Caraccas which are worthy of de scription are the lakes of \laracaIbo and Valencia. The lake of Alaracalbo is nearly in the form of a decanter, ly ing from north to south, with its neck communicating with the sea. Its length is about fifty leagues ; its great est breadth, thirty ; and its circumference, upwards of a hundred and fifty. It is navigable to vessels of the greatest burden ; but the entrance to it is considerably obstructed by a bar. When strong breezes prevail, its waves are so violently agitated as to overwhelm the ca noes and small craft ; but it is seldom visited by hurri canes. Its water is fresh ; but when a gale blows strong ly from the sea, it acquires a brackish tt to Iron its mixture with the waves. In this lake the tide is no,r(
perceptible than On its neighbouring coasts. It abounds w ith all the different specie'. of fish which are PAHA in the risers of South America : the tortoise alone forms a singular exception. The slam s of the Alara( Hi arc so sterile and noxious, as to discourage cohort.: and po pulatioo ; insomuch, that the Indians preferri d dwelling in huts, erected by a particolar construction on the lake itself. In a place called Mena, to the north-ea. t of the lake, in the most barren part of its border., tla it is an inexhaustible mine of mineral pitch, the true natural pessaphalte, which, when mixed with suet, is used fl'a graving vessels. The vapout s exhaled from this mine are so inflammable, that during night phosphoric fires are continually seen, in tht it appearance resembling lightning. They serve a., a light-house and compass to the Spaniards and Indians who nasigate the lake, and who have no other object for observation but the sun by day, and these fires at night.
The lake of Valencia, though not so extensive as tle.1 of Alaracalbo, is much more interesting, both from i' beauty and utility. It is of an oblong form, about thir teen leagues and a half in It ogth, and its greatest breadth is four. Though twenty rivers discharge them, Is( , into this lake, it has no visible outlet ; va neither it depth nor its extent appear to increase. To accou.it fel this singular circumstance, it has been supposed that there must be at the bottom of the lake a subtcrrancon., channel, through which its waters are continually dis charged ; and in support of this theory it is observed, that boats sail with rapidity from the borders to the cen tre, where some dangers are encountered, but return tr, the borders with more difficulty. Nothing can be more magnificent and charming than the scenery round the lake of Valencia. The rich and beautiful valley in which it is situated, surrounded with mountains, except on the west, and the numerous islands scattered over its bosom, give it a strong resemblance to Loch Lomond, the most interesting of our Scottish lakes. The unfailing verdure which adorns its banks, the endless variety of birds which sport in the neighbouring woods, vying with each other in the beauty of their plumage and the melody of their notes, and the fine plantations which extend from it in all directions, fill the heart of the spectator with a kind of rapture, which only the magnificence of nature can impart. Mr Semple saw on this lake the first sail which had ever been spread here, and naturally hailed it as the germ of future improvement.