284 Trip from Angostura to the 



abound in the plains. Dined on beef and rice, with excellent 

 maize-cakes, made with eggs, and returned in the evening, 

 distance four leagues. Crossed the hills at the back of the 

 town ; and, in the savanna on the other side, found some 

 well-watered pastures, where a drove of horses were grazing. 

 This savanna of Upata is long and narrow, bounded on either 

 Bide by a range of mountains ; in most places it is adapted for 

 the plough, and the cultivation of corn and rice. 



14th. Remained at home to write. — Cunejo's delay was ac- 

 counted for, by intelligence that Cumamo, a mission under his 

 jurisdiction, had been abandoned by the people, and a detach- 

 ment of Indians sent in pursuit, murdered to a man. Deter- 

 mined to proceed alone, if C. did not arrive, and, persuaded U. 

 to try his strength in a trip to Santa Maria for a day or two. 

 Also procured from him a map of the missions to serve as our 

 guide : accordingly inspected our arms and accoutrements, and 

 prepared to start next morning. The Doctor brought two bottles 

 of rum from Tarife, one of which I strongly impregnated with ex- 

 tract of bark, which I had found an excellent thing for the sto- 

 mach, and took as a preventative, morning and evening: of this 

 I filled my riding-flask. 



15th. Set out in company with U. and his brother-in-law, 

 bidding adieu to our kind hosts. Jogged on in the direct road, 

 and arrived in three hours at Santa Maria. The commissioner 

 fatigued by the heat of the sun, but much benefited towards 

 evening: mounted, and strolled out to a hill called Calvary, 

 which intercepted our view of the subjacent plains: the hill was 

 itself rocky and barren, but the view superb, and embellished 

 with the rays of the setting sun. Southward and eastward, the 

 plains extended to the horizon: beautifully varied with woods 

 and savannas. The site of some neighbouring missions, as 

 denoted by adjacent hills, was pointed out to us. Palmar al- 

 most due E. Cumamo Miamo o Carapo, S.E. Pastora, nearly 

 S., Puedpa, more to the W., and Euri, nearly W. by S., but 

 none of them visible. 



16th. Killed a sheep, of which there were but 12 in the 

 mission; and which, together with the calves, were regularly 



