324 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I02 



lies, unites with other streams, and 20 leagues below Pamplona, 

 already a large river, it receives another river which runs through 

 the town of Salazar de Las Palmas ; this is a settlement with 40 

 Spanish residents, 23 leagues from Pamplona ; it has an Alcalde 

 Mayor in the private appointment of Capt. Alonso Rangel de Cuellar. 

 This town was established for the subjection of the Orotomos Indians 

 between Pamplona and Santa Marta ; there are many of these Indians 

 to be conquered ; it is one of the best and richest projects in this 

 kingdom ; the Indians are civilized and wear clothes, and the country 

 is rich in gold ore. 



967. Some 12 leagues from the town of Salazar de Las Palmas, 

 this Rio de ZuHa unites with another large river, carrying still more 

 water, at the port of Astillero ; here one takes boat for the Lake of 

 Maracaibo. From the city of Pamplona they freight overland by 

 troops of mules, flour, sugar, quantities of preserves, hides, tobacco, 

 and other commodities to the port of Astillero, 22 leagues ; from 

 here they ship them on boats and rafts to the Lake of Maracaibo, 

 which is 40 leagues from this port of Astillero. 



968. This river always was the channel of navigation ; it will be 

 40 years since two provinces or tribes, the Motilones and Zaparas, 

 who live along the banks of this mighty river, rose in rebellion with 

 their adjoining valleys ; it was Capt. Juan Pacheco Maldonado who 

 in person subdued and pacified the Saparas, who live near the Lake 

 of Maracaibo. After having been Governor of Los Muzos, he ar- 

 ranged with His Majesty to be given the governorship of Merida, 

 in order to finish the conquest and pacification there, as he has done. 



Chapter X 



Of the Administration of the City of Merida, and Its District. 



969. The city of Merida, capital of this new State, is 50 leagues 

 from the city of Pamplona, and 114 NE. of Santa Fe. It was estab- 

 lished in a pleasant and fertile valley, on the slopes of a Sierra 

 Nevada. It is the last town in that direction of the Archdiocese of 

 Bogota, and borders on Venezuela ; it is 24 leagues from the city 

 of Trujillo in that Diocese. This country was explored and subdued, 

 and the city founded, by Capt. Juan Rodriguez Suarez, who was 

 one of the bravest and sturdiest pioneers of those days. He was 

 aided in his campaign by Capt. Guillermo de Vergara and other 

 soldiers and officers. 



970. The city has a constant springlike climate and is surrounded 

 by fertile valleys, in which they raise quantities of wheat, corn, and 



A 



