The former
of these systems, partly covered by the ocean, may be compared, with
respect to its relative position and form, to the Sierra Parime; the
latter, to the Brazil chains, running also from south-west to
north-east. The culminant points of those two systems rise to 1138 and
1040 toises. Such are the elements of this curve, of which the convex
summit is in the littoral chain of Venezuela:
AMERICA, EAST OF THE ANDES.
COLUMN 1 : SYSTEMS OF MOUNTAINS.
COLUMN 2 : MAXIMA OF HEIGHTS IN TOISES.
Brazil Group : Itacolumi 900 (south latitude 20 1/2 degrees).
Parime Group : Duida 1300 (north latitude 3 1/4 degrees).
Littoral Chain of Venezuela : Silla of Caracas 1350 (north latitude 10
1/2 degrees).
Group of the West Indies : Blue Mountains 1138 (north latitude 18 1/5
degrees).
Chain of the Alleghenies : Mount Washington 1040 (north latitude 44
1/4 degrees).
I have preferred indicating in this table the culminant points of each
system to the mean height of the line of elevation; the culminant
points are the results of direct measures, while the mean height is an
abstract idea somewhat vague, particularly when there is only one
group of mountains, as in Brazil, Parime and the West Indies, and not
a continued chain.