Capuchin Missions of the Caroni. 263 



ter. Our road lay in the same direction, S.E., for nearly a 

 league, when we came to an abandoned hut that served as a 

 resting-place, half-way bet^^reen Palmasola and San Felipe. We 

 here fell in with the main road to Angostura, and continued in a 

 direction E.S.E., for about four leagues further. The country 

 visibly improving: well watered savannas, bounded by pic- 

 turesque woody rocks, afForded excellent pasture for the cattle 

 that we saw here and there among the bushes. We knew we 

 were near the place of our destination, but could not discover 

 it.' I had gallopped on with the Doctor and passed the turning ; 

 had not I constrained him to return, we must probably have 

 spent the night on the savanna. By good fortune, we 

 caught our guide in the act of quitting the road as the sun went 

 down. Oor host, Colonel Mornio, received us kindly, and or- 

 dered for our supper some tassago and haropa, which we found 

 excellent. On learning who were his visitors, he gave us every 

 information we required. San Felipe is a farm-house, prettily 

 situated at the base of a stupendous black rock, which rises ap- 

 parently in one block from the plain, between 5 and 600 feet 

 nearly perpendicular. I am told there is a cavern in it acces- 

 sible on horseback, and capable of containing 50 horsemen. 

 The summit must command a beautiful view of the meandering 

 Caroni. This is, in fact, a hato, or cattle-breeder's station ; it 

 once belonged to a respectable family of Angostura ; who being 

 Royalists, the Government seized it and converted it into a 

 depot of cattle for that city, where those driven down from the 

 missions are halted and fattened. The pasturage is reputed ex- 

 cellent, and water abounds in the neighbourhood. The number 

 of cattle there at the time of our visit was about 1,000. It is 

 distant from Angostura from 16 to 17 leagues ; from Carnache, 

 about four leagues. We slung our hammocks for the night in 

 the gallery, with Our baggage all around us ; having recom- 

 mended our beasts to be secured in good pasturage for the night. 

 A sound sleep recruited our strength after two days' fatigue. 



31st. Our friendly host treated us with a profusion of milk, 

 wliich we tempered with a drop of rum; and at eight, A.M., ac- 

 <'onij)anied us through his domains, skirting, as wc went, a very 



