The most uneven portion of the cattio-plains is that which extends on the south side of the coast-range, and lies west of the river Orituco, reaching to the bank. of the Portuguese ; hut south of this tract the country continues to be uneveu, as there are several small Mesas; while on its southern edge are several isolated bills, which are sur rounded by extensive plains covered with fine grass.
South-west of the uneven tract just mentioned are the Plains of Barinas (Varinas), which are considered the most fertile part of the great plain, and the best adapted for cultivation. These plains extend along the of the Andes from the Rio Portuguese to the Rio Sarare and Apure, a distance of more than 150 miles, and are from GO to 80 miles wide. Tha mountains terminate abruptly on the plain. From their bare a very gentle slope descends in a south-eastern direction towards the banks of the rivers Portuguese and Apure. This elope is furrowed by numerous large rivers, which descend from the mountains and drain the plain, running nearly parallel to one another. They are navigable nearly to the base of the mountains, but during the rains they inundate a considerable portion of the plain, the higher tracts along the river banks being the only parts not subject to inundation. These high banks are also the only parte of the plain which are covered with woods, and which contain tracts fit for cultivation. Numerous hamlets and single farm-houses are built on these higher grounds, where maize, yucca, and plantains are extensively grown : the lower parts, which are subject to inundation, serve as pasture-grounds during the dry season.
Between the Rio Apure and the Rio Meta, both affluents of the Orinoco from the west, are the Plains or Llanos of Apure. They contain the lowest portion of the Cattle-Plains. This tract is eo that the current of the Apure and Meta is imperceptible, and a strong eastern gale, or the least rise iu the Orinoco, causes their waters to flow back. No rock, no stone, not even a pebble is seen in these plains. The soil consists of a mixture of sand and chalk. It is covered with grass, but is entirely destitute of trees and bushes, except a few scattered groves. The only inequalities of the surface are some hills, mainly of sand, which rise a few yards above the common level, and some slightly elevated grounds called banks. In the dry season this plain is one immense pasture-ground; but during the rains from April to July or August it becomes an immense lake, in which the banks appear like islands.
South of the Rio Meta begins a Woody Region, which extends south ward to the limits of Brazil, and may be considered as the northern portion of that immense forest, or series of forests, which occupies South America on both sides of the equator. In their present state these forests can only be entered by means of the rivers which, des cending from the Eastern Andes of New Granada, traverse them in their course to the Orinoco. In the southern districts of this region is the Rio Casiquiare, or that branch of the Orinoco which separates from the river soon after it issues from the mountains, and runuing south by west joins the Rio Negro, or ()satiate, an affluent of the