AMAZONAS.
That portion of Venezuela which lies east of the Rio Orinoco and north of the Pacaraima ridge is mostly occupied by the Parimo Moun tains and their offsets. [Onrsoco.] The greater part of this immense tract, which comprehends more than one-third of the territories of the republic, is entirely unknown, as the interior has been traversed only by a few adventurers, who followed the course of the large rivers in search of the famous El Dorado. They found nearly the whole covered with an interminable forest of tall trees, amidst which rocky masses frequently rose in fantastic forms. A few tribes of aborigines in habited the banks of the rivers, and lived mostly on the produce of their fisheries and a few wild fruits. The country adjacent to the banks of the Orinoco River however was more populous, and in these places the Capuchin monks established some missions. Though in some places the ridges of the Parime Mountains approach the river, in general they remain at a considerable distance from its banks : and this intermediate space is generally an uneven plaiu, on which a con siderable number of wooded rocks rise to a moderate elevation. Below the rapids of Atures both sides of the river, with the exception of a few places, are skirted by a low ground which is annually inundated. It varies from half a mile to three miles in width. The district of Upata, which lies south of the delta of the Orinoco, and extends from the river Caroni on the west to the Sierra Irnataca, the must maritime ridge of the Parime Mountains on the east, is the only part which is occupied, except by two or three scattered families. It is a table land, whose surface is 1400 feet above the sea-level, and whose northern declivity approaches the Orinoco within a few miles. The surface of this table-land is very uneven, and presents s. quick succession of small grassy savannas, well-wooded isolated rocks and hills, and delight ful valleys. The fertility of this tract in many parts is said to be hardly inferior to that of the Vales of Aragua, while its climate is less hot and dry than that of other parts of the republic. This tract
is no less fit for rearing cattle than for cultivation. Coffee, cacao, cotton, sugar, indigo, and all the roots and fruits which grow between the tropics are cultivated. The cascarilla is collected in great quantities.
Venezuela is well watered, with the exception of the Mesas and that tract of the coast which extends from the town of Cumarebo westward to the Gulf of Venezuela. The number of rivers is very great, and that of the navigable rivers considerable. Most of them join the Orinoco, which runs about 1300 miles, and is navigable for the greater part of its course. This river, with its principal tribu taries, is noticed elsewhere. [Oareoco, vol. iv., col. 13.] Of the rivers joining it from the west, the Inirida flows 424 miles ; the Guaviare flows more than 800 miles; and the Mote flows an equal distance, and all of them are navigable for a large part of their course. Farther north the Orinoco is joined by the Aruek, which is more navigated than the other rivers of the republic. The rivers which fall into the Orinoco from the east descend from the Parime Mountains, and preserve the characteristic of all the rivers originating in that mountain system, being impeded in their course by cataracts and rapids. The largest are the Caura, and the Caroni, each of which flows for about 600 miles. The navigation of these two rivers is interrupted at eeveml places by cataract& The southern portion of Venezuela is drained by the Rio Negro, which in its upper course is called Gnainia. It is joined from the north by the Casiquisre, a branch of the Orinoco, which connects the Rio Orinoco with the Rio Amazonas. This natural channel is 240 miles long, in general 30 feet deep, and on the average abont 400 yards wide. It is navigable, as well as the Rio Negro, as far as it drains the territories of the republic; but lower down in Brazil the navigation is interrupted by numerous rapids and small cataracts.