68 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I02 



is that of the Ajaguas, near the Rio Meta and hving on its banks ; 

 they have a large population. Adjoining them is the tribe of the 

 Caqnetios, on the plains at the source of the Casanare, in the Province 

 of Tunapuna ; these are already Christian Indians and live in settle- 

 ments, although they have no priests, because their encomenderos are 

 more concerned with sending them tribute collectors than persons to 

 teach them Christian doctrine and good habits. 



176. The tribe of the Guaibas are like gypsies ; they travel over 

 the plains in troops, without village or abiding place ; they live by 

 stealing what they can from the neighboring tribes, without having 

 any definite home or village. The tribes mentioned above are those 

 living in the valley and on the banks of the River Orinoco, not includ- 

 ing countless others living inland. 



Chapter XV 



Of the Tribe of the Aruaca Indians, Valiant beyond the Others ; 

 of the Way in Which They Commission Captains, and of Their 

 Deeds and Victories over Other Tribes. 



177. The tribe of the Aruaca Indians is among the most valiant in 

 those parts ; feared for their bravery by their neighbors and adjoin- 

 ing tribes, they are envied by the Indians of other tribes ; they were 

 always very loyal friends of the Spaniards, and when the latter came 

 from Spain in the year 1595, they helped, served, and assisted them 

 in all their needs, although at the present time they have withdrawn. 



178. While enjoying the good graces and the friendship of the 

 Spaniards, and incensed against the Carib Indians of Granada and 

 other Windward Islands because of the robberies they committed, 

 Aracoraima, the valiant cacique of the Aruacas went to the island of 

 Margarita to pledge 24 of his women for the sum of 6,000 pesos' 

 worth of axes, knives, and other trade goods, in order to build a 

 fleet of 120 vessels against these Caribs and to take all those islands, 

 and though he was only a poor naked Indian, they gave him the 

 6,000 pesos on his word without any security ; it had no sequel, for 

 the Spaniards interfered, desiring to go with him as his elder brothers 

 and carry off all the glory ; the Indian paid his debt and returned home. 



179. While this valiant Aracoraima was on this journey to the 

 island of Margarita, crossing from Chacachacare to the mainland, in 

 the midst of the Dragon's Mouth and traveling alone in his dugout with 

 his 24 women whom he took along as rowers, he was met by six dug- 

 outs of Camajuya Indians ; he fought bravely with them until they 

 left him for dead, whereupon they put a dozen young braves in his 



