Capuchin Missions of the Caroni. 267 



Anisette's fears obscured his judgment, that he hurried us on 

 with the intimation that we had got full three leagues to go. 

 San Antonio or Unrisatono is prettily situated in an extensive 

 savanna, girt about with mountains, and at a considerable ele- 

 vation. The spot seems very healthy ; but the fever had pene- 

 trated to this, as well as all the other missions. The comman- 

 dant, and all his people, with more than 100 Indians, were 

 lying sick; every house presented a scene of horror. This town 

 of 56 buildings, in 1803, contained 802 inhabitants: not 30 

 people remained in health: 230 had already died: burials four 

 per day: despair visible in every countenance. There is here 

 excellent pasturage, but few cattle. The surrounding hills are 

 rich enough for any cultivation. Cotton and tobacco thrive in 

 the savanna; but rice and cassava seem the principal products. 

 The buildings are on a smaller scale than at Carnache, but the 

 church pretty ; the tinsel and rude ornaments of the altar-piece 

 evince the Indian taste for finery. A tolerable image of our Sa- 

 viour had been brought from Spain. It seems to be a principle 

 of the Capuchins to do every thing themselves; this, and all the 

 other images and paintings we saw, were the work of Capuchins. 

 We found here abundance of cinchona, which it never entered into 

 the heads of the people to make use of, though the fever was 

 intermittent: the commandant promised to try it himself, but 

 deemed it impossible to persuade the Indians to make the expe- 

 riment. 



2d. Set out for Upata: the air pure and cool; very different 

 from what we had felt on the banks of the Orinoco c followed the 

 level of the savanna, in a direction east by south : the herbage 

 good and well watered in many parts: soil light, but fertile: 

 rocky hills occasionally projected on the view. A range appear- 

 ed to run parallel on the north. Southward the plain seemed 

 to extend to the savannas of Pastora; in fact, a road breaks off 

 in that direction. At half-past 10, breakfasted on the remains of 

 our wallet: found clear and excellent water. Our beasts re- 

 velled in the finest pasture: they had become so familiar, that 

 we could turn thcni out without apprehension. At Carnache 

 we hud drunk of the siulubrious Carmi. San Antonio is princi- 



