VENEZUELA, containing the provinces of Carabobo and Caracas, with a superficial extent of 43,700 square miles, and a population of 326,840, is perhaps the most important section of the Republic of Colombia. Having the department of Zulia west, and Cumana east, fronting on the Caribbean Sea, and extending inland to the Ori noco river, the department of Venezuela is favourably situated for foreign and domestic commerce. As a na tural section this department is remarkable, since though stretching along the Caribbean Sea upwards of 220 miles, the slope is inwards towards the Orinoco. The city of Caracas, distant only 8 direct miles from the sea coast, is elevated above its surface 2860 feet, and the sources of the confluents of Orinoco rise within forty miles of the waters of the Atlantic. This department extends from 7° 30' to 40' N. lat. and in long. from 05' to 35' E. from \Vashington City. The capi tal city, Caracas, situated in a mountain valley, at 10° 31' N.. long. 9° 51' E. from Washington, contains a population of 28,000.
MicruitiN comprises the three provinces of Margarita, Barcelona, and Cumana, having the Caribbean Sea north, the Atlantic Ocean north-east and east, the Orinoco river south, and Venezuela west ; greatest length along the Orinoco 400 miles, and embracing a superficial area of 48,600 square miles; the mean breadth is a small fraction above 121 miles. Extending from 7° 45' to I
10' N. lat. and in long. from 11° to 16° 45' E. from \Vashington City, Maturin contains the great Delta of the Orinoco, a river border along that stream of 400 miles, and an oceanic front of 700 miles. Though the original discovery of Columbus, the region contiguous to the lower Orinoco is yet very thinly peopled. Maturin on 48,600 square miles, contains but 86,017 inhabitants, or not two to the square mile ; and of this moderate popu lation, the three capitals, Asuncion of Margarita, Bar celona of the province of the same name, and Cumana of Cumana comprise 14,500. The city of Cumana is the capital of the department, and stands on the Gulf of Cariaco at N. lat. 10° 25', long. 47' E. from Wash ington City ; population 7000.