One of the principal affluents of the Essequibo, the Cuyooni, rises in Venezuela. It flows 600 miles, of which above 400 miles are navi gable; but only the upper portion of this river belongs to the republic.
The rivers which fall into the sea within the territory of the republic withont joining the Orinoco, Rio Negro, or Essequibo, have a comparatively short course. A few of them however are navigated, as the Guarapiche, which rises in the mountain-system of the Bergantin, and falls into the Gulf of Perin. It runs about 180 miles, of which more than 70 miles are navigable. The Never', on which the town of Barcelona is built, rises in Mount Turumiquire, rune abont 60 miles, and is navigable for small boats for 40 miles, and for larger boats 18 miles. The Unare, rising in the Mesas, flows about 170 miles, and is navigable for 90 miles. The Tui, which drains the principal valley of the coast-range, flows 190 miles, end is navigable for more than 80 mile!. The largest of the rivers falling into the Caribbean Sea is the Tocuyo, which rises on the northern declivity of the Paramos of Niguitao and of Rotas, and falls into the Golfo Triste after a course of 300 miles, of which more than 150 miles are navigable. The largest of the navigable rivers falling into the Lake of Maracaibo have been noticed.
Climate, Productions, kc.—With respect to climate, Venezuela is divided liy the natives into three zones, called Tierras Calidaa, Tern pladas, and Fries. Hot countries (Horne! calidas) are all those which do not rise more than 2000 feet above the sea, and in which only tropical plants and fruits succeed. The temperate countries (tierrae templadas) are between 2000 and 7000 feet above the sea ; the agri cultural productions of Europe succeed best in them. The cold countries (tierras fries) are those which, from 7000 feet above the sea-level, rise to the summit of the Sierra Nevada de Merida (15,348 feet), 148 feet above the enow-line (15,200 feet), and are uninhabited. The cold and temperate regions however occupy only a comparatively small portion of the country, by far the greater portion of which has a hot climate. In Venezuela, as in other countries between the tropics, the year is divided into two seasons, a wet or winter, and a dry or summer season. The north-east trade wind, which properly blows the whole year round in this country, is modified in its direction and force by these seasons. As soon as the sun crosses the equator. the wind passes to the south of east, and the rains begin, accompanied by thunder-storms. The rains are gene rally abundant and continual, though there occur a few days in which not a drop falls; and there is also an interval, either before or after midsummer, when it does not rain for a whole month. This season
is called the Little Summer of St. John. The dry season, or summer, begins when the sun has entered the southern hemisphere. This general order of the seasons is however subject to numerous modi fications in several parts of the country.
Codazzi gives a list of 180 plants which are cultivated in Venezuela; there are also 240 kinds of trees and shrubs, whose wood is used for domestic purposes, 36 plants yielding gums and resins, and 45 which produce medical drugs. The articles of cultivation which are grown for exportation are coffee, cotton, indigo, cacao, sugar, tobacco, and cocoa-nuts. Cotton is grown chiefly in the valleys of the coast-range, and in the country adjacent to it on the south, and also in Barium. Indigo, which was once the most important object of cultivation, is much neglected, and coffee, cotton, and sugar have taken ita place; but indigo is still grown In some places within the coast-range. The cacao of Caracas is known as the best, but its cultivation has greatly extended in the valleys of the coast-range and of the Bergantin, and in the plains of Farina,. Coffee has of late years become the ataplo product: It is very largely grown in the valley. of the comet range, on the declivities of the Andes, and in the plains of Barinu The plantations of sugar are much less extensive : nearly all of them are in the valleya of the coast-range, especially in the vales of Aragua. The cocoa-palm is met with to the height of 700 feet, and large quantities of the oil are exported. The tobacco of this country is of the beat quality, and grows in the valleya of the Bergantin, the declivitiea of the Andes, and the plaice of Utapa and Darius. The tobacco of Barinas (Varinaa) is well-known in Europe, but that of Cumanacoa in the Bergantin Mountains is said to be better. Maize is most extensively cultivated all over the country ; but wheat only in the more elevated tracts, especially in those which are more than 1800 feet above tho sea-leveL Rice is grown in a few places in tho lower tracts, and barley only on the declivity of the Andes. Millet is an object of cultivation. The plantain (Musa paradisiaea), is cultivated in all the agricultnral districts up to 7000 feet. The roots which are grown as food are chiefly potatoes, batatas (Coneolruhu batact.), yucca Glatropha &c. The cultivation of almost every kind of leguminous plants is considerable, especially beans, haricots), lentils, vetches, and garbanzas. Melons and water-melons are much attended to, but vegetables aro in general neglected.