Capuchin Missions of the Caroni. 281 



and his deputy had both gone to Upata ill of the fever, leaving 

 in charge an old man of fifty-six, the mayor-domo or officer 

 formerly intrusted with the cattle. The old gentleman soon 

 returned from visiting the Indian captains. He gave most 

 doleful details of the ravages of the fever. All the Indians able 

 to crawl had withdrawn to the woods, and were dying fast. 

 The houses were nearly all abandoned. Visited six, and found 

 three or four old women administering food to their expiring 

 families ; but there was little hope of their recovery, for there 

 were none to go to the grounds for food. The mayor-domo de- 

 clared, that more had died from starvation than fever ; and that 

 being the only person in health, he was himself obliged to kill 

 the animals assigned for their rations, and to distribute to each 

 his small pittance. But all their cattle had been slaughtered at 

 San Miguel, and they were entirely dependent for supplies 

 upon Upata. — This place has extensive tobacco and cotton 

 grounds. Soil around very fertile, and pastures excellent; 

 but labour wholly suspended by the pestilence. We found here 

 as at Cupapuy, a cotton press, worked by a wooden skrew, 

 turned by the labour of four men : there were also a few bales of 

 cotton packed in hides. The church very neat, and just re- 

 beautified. The cherubims of Indian workmanship afforded a 

 curious specimen of progress in the art of painting. Some brass 

 swivels in the yard induced me to ask their use in such a place. 

 " For defence," replied our conductor ; " I remember the time 

 when this neighbourhood was thronged with wild Indians ini- 

 mical to these establishments, who often attacked us, and 

 would soon have extinguished the padres, had they not pro- 

 cured these arms from Angostura." " So then the padres 

 were not always upon good terms with the native tribes ?" 

 " Oh no; they came in by persuasion, but maintained them- 

 selves by force ; and when once strong enough, sought to ag- 

 grandize themselves at the expense of those who refused to 

 submit to their yoke." He expressed his firm persuasion, that 

 the English would soon come and take possession of the coun- 

 try, and ardent hope that he might live to reap the benefits of 

 their fostering protection : " Are they not spreading all over the 



