270 Trip from Angostura to the 



that he felt the symptoms until some days after his return to 

 Upata. Its prevalence in this town he attributed to the pre- 

 sence of the troops, for whom a quantity of cattle had been 

 slaughtered, and the bones and oiFal left to rot in the streets, 

 as usual among this indolent people. The country had always 

 been considered healthy, and the fever never been known be- 

 fore this season ; but now its ravages were dreadful ; one fourth 

 of the population had been carried off, and it proved more 

 destructive to the Indians than to the Creoles. Conversed with 

 U upon many interesting topics, particularly the practi- 

 cability of opening a communication with Demarara, which 

 Piar had unsuccessfully attempted. Found him well-informed 

 and communicative, though somewhat vain of his talents. He 

 is a native of New Grenada, tall, very thin, with an expressive 

 Spanish countenance ; and was rapturous in praise of his 

 native province. 



3d Nov. Staid at home to recruit after our journey. Anisette 

 despatched to procure coffee and sugar, and some maize for the 

 beasts. Maize cost us three rials the almud, eggs four for the 

 rial, papellons two rials a piece, fowls from two to eight rials ; 

 beef we got for the asking. In the afternoon walked round the 

 town, and discovered a box of Frontignac wine, on which luxury 

 we laid violent hands, at 1 § dollar per bottle. 



4th Nov. Rode out early to ascend a steep hill, 600 feet in 

 height, on the south side of the town. The view from the 

 summit by no means compensated our fatigue. Descending, 

 with difficulty, we remounted, and followed the path to a small 

 neat plantation we had descried from the top. Here we found 

 a habitation surrounded by cocoa-nuts, coffee, and orange trees, 

 with a small patch of tobacco ; another of plantains ; and at 

 some little distanc.e the yaca, or cassava ground, and maize 

 plantation ; all in a small way. The venerable owner welcomed 

 us in the most agreeable and polite manner to his humble 

 home ; his wife, a notable dame, gave us coffee and fruit ; 

 and two strapping daughters were grinding maize for the 

 breakfast of the young family ; a poor miserable boy was 

 groaning in the next room, and dying of a wound in the foot. 



