to C. Fourcroy, 5 



time-keeper, with which I am ftill well fatisfied. I afcended 

 the Cafquiara inhabited by the Ydapaminares, who eat nothing 

 but ants dried in the fmoke. I penetrated to the fources of the 

 Orenoquo, even beyond the volcano of Duida, or as far; as the 

 ferocity of the Guaica and Guaharribo Indians would permit 

 me to venture, and I defcended the whole of the Orenoquo, 

 by the force of its current, as far as the capital of Guyana ; 

 performing a journey of 5D0 leagues in twenty-fix days, 

 without counting thofe on which we flopped. 



My health has withftood all the fatigues of a journey of 

 more than 1300 leagues ; but my poor companion, C. Bon- 

 pland, had nearly fallen a vi&im to his zeal and devotion 

 for the fciences. After our return, he was attacked by a 

 violent fever, accompanied with a dangerous vomiting; 

 which, however, was fpeedily cured. 



The river of the Amazons has been inhabited for 200 

 vears by Europeans ; but on the Orenoquo and the Rio- 

 Nigro, it was only about thirty years ago that the Europeans 

 ventured to form a few fettlements beyond the catara&s. 

 Thofe which exift do not comprehend above 1800 Indians, 

 from the eighth degree to the equator ; and there are no other 

 whites than lix or feven miflionary monks, who did every 

 thing they could to facilitate our journey. 



From St. Thomas, the capital of Guyana, lat 8° 8 ' 24", 

 long. 4 25' 2", we crofTcd once more the great defert called 

 Elanos, inhabited by wild cattle and horfes. I am now em- 

 ployed in conftrucling a map of the country through which 

 I have travelled. I have been fo fortunate as to make aftro- 

 nomical obfervations in fifty- four places. I obferved at Ca- 

 raccas, Cumana, and Tuy, twelve eclipfes of the fatellites of 

 Jupiter; an eclipfe of the fun on the 28th of October 1799. 

 By thefe means, and the chronometer, I flatter myfelf I fhall 

 be able to give a very exact map. We (hall embark here at 

 length for the Havannah, from which we fhall proceed to 

 Mexico. — Such is the fummarv of my travels. I know that 

 you, Chaptal, Vauquelin, Guyton, are all interefted in my 

 fate ; and for that reafon I am not afraid of tiring you. 



We have fcarcely any communication here with Europe. 

 I have often attempted to write to you, as well as to our 

 friends Vauquelin and Chaptal. I have fent you fome ex* 

 periments on air, and the caufe of miafmata. I have fent 

 to Delambre and Lalande, extracts from my fmall astrono- 

 mical obfervations. Have any of thefe reached the place of 

 their deftination ? By the conful of the republic at Saint 

 Thomas I tranfmitted to you the milk of a tree which the 

 Indians call the cow, becaufe they drink this milky juice, 



A3 which 



