98 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I02 



unawares, you defended yourselves so courageously ; and so I charge 

 you that on such future occasions as may present themselves, you 

 so continue, since not only is it to your own interest to accomplish 

 such a glorious task, but still more to the interest of the Catholic 

 religion against its enemies, the heretics ; and this cause shall not rest 

 without satisfaction, to which end negotiations are being carried on 

 with the seriousness which the situation demands ; and for whatever 

 emergencies of this sort may arise in the future, you will correspond 

 with the Governors of Puerto Rico and Cumana. I have sent them 

 orders to send men to aid you, and the Governor of Puerto Rico is 

 to ship you immediately 8 quintals of powder, 20 muskets and the 

 same number of harquebusses with all their gear, and 2 quintals 

 of gun matches (cuerda) and 4 of lead, which is the amount that 

 appears necessary to fit out the entire number of you who remain 

 there ; and you will take all possible care of these arms and munitions, 

 storing them in some public place where they will be held in respect 

 against the time of need, or distributing them under responsible assur- 

 ance to the persons who seem to you most fitting for your defense. 

 From San Lorenzo el Real, on the 18th of September of the year 

 1618. I the King. By command of the King our Lord, Juan Ruiz 

 de Contreras." 



Chapter XXX 



Of Other Cities in These Provinces of Venezuela. 



276. The city of Nueva Valencia was founded by Captain Villa- 

 sinda in the year 1540 close by the seacoast, 7 leagues from La 

 Borburata, and 24 W. of Caracas ; it will count about 100 Spanish 

 residents. It has next it the Province of Niriia, the Indians of which 

 are called Jirajaras ; they are sturdy and brave, and at present are 

 unsubdued. The province abounds in everything, is beautiful to look 

 upon, and is rich in gold ore of fine quality, but since these savages 

 are warlike, this province does not yield the wealth to be expected 

 from the gold everywhere under its soil. To reach the other localities 

 in this State and Diocese, one must travel through the midst of these 

 savages, with escorts of soldiers clothed in cotton wadding as far as 

 the knees, which they call escaupiles, against the poisoned arrows 

 which they shoot. It is 24 leagues' journey to the village of Caroa 

 in the jurisdiction of Barquisimeto, which is 39 leagues from 

 Valencia. 



277. The city of Nueva Segovia de Barquisimeto, resembling in its 

 situation and river the Segovia of Spain, was founded and settled by 

 Capt. Juan de \^illegas in the year 1552. It is famous because of the 



