we not given to this same sea different names aecording to the different countries which it washes. Do we not say the Adriatic Sea, the Candian Sea, the Scotch or Caledonian Sea, the Irish Sea, the Cimbric Sea, &c.? Why, then, in order the better to designate the part of which we speak, do we not say, the Caribbean Sea?

Tides.

Over all the northern coast from Cape de la Vela to Cape Paria, the tides are so irregular and imperceptible as to be entirely overlooked in the reckonings and calculations of the navigator; whilst on all the eastern coast from the last mentioned cape to Dutch Guiana they are so powerful as to command rigid observance from the ships, which frequent those latitudes. It is evident that the bearings of the coasts are the only cause of that singularity.

Winds.

The winds are much more regular on the coasts, where nothing deranges their natural direction, than in the inland parts, where they are subjected to local influence. The common breeze on the coasts is the same which prevails at sea between the tropics, known under the name of trade-winds. They blow from N. E. by E. There is, however, this difference, that at sea these winds are constant, whereas upon the coasts, they only blow from nine or ten o'clock in the morning till the evening. They are succeeded

every night by an opposite wind, which is called the land breeze. This periodical succession is general, but not without exceptions.

Worms or Tarets.

All the sea-ports of which I have spoken, are infested with that species of worms, called Tarets, which are said to have been brought from the Antilles into Europe. It is true, they are so abundant there, that there is no road, nor river, which receives the salt-water, but swarms with them. A ship, not secured by being copper-bottomed, cannot remain for any considerable time in any of those ports, without being injured by these worms, and even rendered unfit for service. Such as remain in port must be well graved once in every three or four months, otherwise they must perish upon the hands of the

owners.

Surge.

Another inconvenience common to all the ports of the province of Caraccas is, that they are continually exposed to rolling seas, to those monstrous billows, which, though they by no means appear to be occasioned by the winds, yet are not upon that account the less inconvenient, nor, frequently, the less dangerous. The road of Porto-Cabello is the only place which affords a safe and quiet retreat to the navy, where vessels can lie quietly and the mariners are free from care.

Ports.

Let us now take a particular view of every port, in the same order in which we have described the navigable rivers.

Portéta and Bayahonda.

Six leagues east of Cape de la Vela, is a port called Porteta, which admits small vessels only; but four leagues farther to the windward is that of Bayahonda, where vessels of the largest size can enter and anchor, without being exposed to the smallest danger from the winds; the anchorage in these two ports is excellent, but being in possession of the Indians, they are of no advantage to the Spaniards. Here let me observe, by the bye, that these Indians are employed in the pearl-fishery in the road cf Bayahonda, from which they derive the only article they have to barter with the Dutch and English.

Maracaibo.

The first port we meet, as we proceed along the coast to the eastward, is that of Maracaibo. A bar of quicksand, which is but ten or twelve feet under water, entirely excludes large vessels, and with difficulty admits small ones; he must be well acquainted with his business, and extremely attentive to his duty, who attempts to enter this port without a pilot. As soon as he clears the bar, he has plenty of water, and a good harbour.

Coro.

As you travel farther to the east, you only meet with landing places at different distances from one another, till you come to Coro, whose port lies open from north to north-east. One may anchor as far in as he chuses, because the water continues to deepen, in proportion as he approaches the shore. Neither its accommodations, nor commodities make it a port of great resort.

Porto-Cabello.

Between Coro and Porto-Cabello, there are none that deserve the name of ports. But we are now

come to the best, not only on this coast, but in all America. The bay of Porto-Cabello is spacious, handsome, commodious, and safe. It is capable of affording anchorage to the whole of the Spanish navy. It is defended against the fury of the winds, from whatever quarter they blow. The land which encompasses it on the south, east, and west, is so happily disposed by nature, as to baffle the impetuosity of the north-east wind, which is so common there. So little does this bay partake of those agitations which continually prevail with more or less violence, in the tropical seas that it resembles a pond more than port. The name given it by the Spaniards is expressive of the advantages, which it so eminently enjoys, importing that in the harbour of Porto-Cabello, a vessel at anchor is more effectually secured by a simple rope, than elsewhere by the strongest cables. The surge,

which is no where more common, never disturbs the placid composure of the road. Its anchorage, which owes nothing to art, is so commodious, that the largest ships may lay alongside of the wharf, load and unload without the assistance of lighters. The men of war have no other communication with the land, than by a flying bridge three or four toises long.

Turiamo, Patanemo, Borburata and Sienega.

Three leagues to the windward of Porto-Cabello,* is the Bay of Turiamo, which extends one league from north to south. Scarcely any shipping resort to it, because it has no shelter from the north wind, and because the country around it does not afford enough of commodities to induce merchants to subject navigation to those inconveniences to which it is liable in a port of this description. What has been said of the bay of Turiamo, is equally applicable to those of Patanemo, Borburata, and Sienega. The whole population of each of these bays consists of no more than a small party of soldiers, stationed there to prevent smuggling.

Ocumara.

The bay of Ocumara, five leagues east of PortoCabello is a very good port, very well sheltered from the breeze, and from the north. Its moorings are excellent. The port is defended on the east, by a battery mounting eight pieces of cannon of the caliber of 8 or 12. The village of Ocumara is at the dis

* Better known by the name of Porto-Bello.