AVES ISLAND, 367 



him the vessel's register. He was then summoned, on the part of the 

 commanding officer, to come on board of our schooner, which he was 

 unwilling to do. The second officer came and returned in company 

 with the commanding officer. The captain then said that he was 

 there loading with guano ; that he had ten tons on board and sixty- 

 five bags ashore; that he had gone there from Laguayra; and he 

 showed his register. The schooner was called the White Swan, of 

 Baltimore, Captain J. Henry. The commanding officer informed him 

 that he must remain at anchor until daybreak, when he would com- 

 municate his orders. The captain agreed to this. The boat came 

 alongside and we then commenced beating between Orquilla and 

 El Pie, not being able to anchor because we were unacquainted with 

 the anchoring ground. In one of the tacks, a little longer than the 

 rest, the schooner made sail. (It was then 1 o'clock of the morning.) 

 "On noticing it we pursued her. Finally we descried her, and con- 

 tinued in her wake until four o'clock, a. m. On getting within aver- 

 age cannon shot distance from her we fired several loads of ball and 

 grape at her. She again left us. We made all sail, although our 

 sails were reefed, and we kept up the pursuit until 11, p. m., when we 

 could no longer overtake her. Then we tacked ship, and again re- 

 turned to The Brothers." 



Which I have the honor to inclose to you for your knowledge and 

 further purposes. 



I am your obedient servant, 



FRANCISCO ORIACH. 

 A copy. 

 [seal.] G-utierrez. 



[Translation.] 



S&puhUc of Venezuela. 



SCHOONBR-OF-WAR MONAGAS, AT ANCHOR IN THE CrUCITA, 



October 16, 1855. - 



3l7\ Minister of State in the Office of Treasury: 



In the long and painful voyage I have had to make since I left 

 Laguayra on the 19th of August last, I went finally to the Island of 

 Aves and anchored there on the 28th of September, and, after having 

 put ashore Senor Eafael Miranda, superintendent of the guano in that 

 island, I was informed by Lieutenant Francisco Atiles, the commander 

 of that garrison, that the official communication which was transmitted 

 to him by Colonel Jelambi, his immediate superior, did not impose on 

 him the duty of allowing any vessel to load, though it were dispatched 

 by Senor Grusman, until the supreme government should prescribe its 



