Cumana L A State Of Venezuela, bounded N. by the Caribbean sea, E. by the gulf of Paria and the delta of the Orinoco, S. by the Orinoco, and W. by the state of Barcelona; area, 17,409 sq. m.; pop. about 76,000. It has two peninsulas on its N. coast, that of Paria separating the gulf of the same name from the Caribbean sea, and Araya, which forms the gulf of Cariaco. At the mouth of the gulf of Paria lies the British island of Trinidad. The gulf of Cariaco, which is 42 m. long and from 7 to 9 m. broad, is a fine roadstead, affording excellent anchorage. The surface of the province is traversed by mountain ranges, the chief of which crosses it from E. to "VV., parallel to the coast, and sends numerous spurs toward the S. These hills are not very high, but are generally steep and covered with dense forests, which afford many kinds of precious woods. Between the ranges are fertile and well watered valleys, well adapted for pasturage or cultivation. The chief rivers are the Guarapiche, Guanipa, Tigre, and Morichal, all of which empty into the gulf of Paria, and the Cumanil or Manzanares and Cariaco, affluents of the Caribbean sea. In the valleys of the Orinoco are numerous small streams and many lakes. The climate is very hot, but is generally healthy.

The principal products are cacao, cotton, sugar, tobacco, maize, and vanilla, and cattle and mules are raised in large numbers. Salt is made along the coasts. lit Cumana, or New Toledo, the capital of the state, situated near the mouth of the gulf of Cariaco, on the river Manzanares, about a mile from the sea, in lat. 10° 27' K, lon. 64° 20' W., 190 m. E. of Caracas; pop. about 12,000. It has a very fine and capacious harbor, defended by the fortress of San Antonio, built on a rocky eminence which commands the town. The city is poorly built, the houses being generally low and flat. It has been frequently visited by earthquakes. It was entirely destroyed, Oct. 21, 1766, in the space of a few minutes; and a similar visitation, Dec. 14, 1797, laid four fifths of it in ruins. The principal trade is in mules, cattle, dried meat, hides, salted fish, and cacao. The town has three suburbs, Serritos, San Francisco, and Guayquerias, the aggregate population of which nearly equals its own. Cumana is one of the oldest cities built by Europeans in the new world, having been founded by Diego Castellon in 1523.