26 Excursion from Angostura to the 



at length some eatables, tassago and cassava, which, all wet 

 and fatigued as we were, was truly acceptable. Our boys 

 arrived between nine and ten. My horse, and K.'s, were tied 

 together and turned out, as likewise the rest of the beasts with 

 the same precaution. Our wallets being well stored, passed a 

 comfortable night. Slung my hammock in the house. The 

 rest more prudently in the gallery. 



15th. In the morning sent for the horses, intending to ride 

 over to San Miguel, and despatch the baggage to Caroni. But 

 K.'s was not forthcoming ; suspicion of course fell upon the 

 few Creoles in the place, but without effect. No tidings could 

 be obtained, so left K. and the soldier to search, and gallopped 

 with Jeronyrao to San Miguel. San Felix, or Calvary, is a beau- 

 tiful spot, situated on an elevated savannah, half way between 

 the hills and the river, which is but four miles distant. The 

 woody grounds behind it extremely fertile ; in front a savannah 

 covered with tolerable herbage, stretching along the Orinoco 

 from the Caroni, eastward. The view from this mission is 

 magnificent, although the water is shut out by the elevation of 

 the savannah. Judging by the appearance and site it should 

 be healthy, but its vicinity to San Miguel has actually stript it 

 of inhabitants. Its distance from that place about two leagues, 

 and from Caroni three leagues. The road to the former runs 

 across the savannah nearly N.E., but there is a small patch of 

 wood before reaching the town. On the right hand is seen a 

 beautiful amphitheatre of hills, and a tremendous ridge appears 

 to run in the direction of Guayana Vieja. On the left, the 

 Orinoco in all its majesty, just before the division of its 

 waters by the isle of Fajado. San Miguel itself is built upon 

 the sloping side of a hill, looking down upon the Orinoco, of 

 which it commands a fine and extensive view. The town well- 

 built and lately populous ; the church in particular roomy and 

 spacious. Its elevated position, and the continual current of 

 the river, ought to ensure its salubrity ; but it would seem that, 

 in addition to the annual recurrence of intermittent fevers, which 

 is experienced all along the banks of this river, during the 

 months of September and October, the air had this season ac- 



