370 AVES ISLAND. 



a period of a montli when laboring with a sufficient number of men, 

 unless it does not receive much stone, for on these islands there is 

 really no convenient j^osition for getting it at once on board. After 

 the greatest labor in getting it out and separating it from the stones, 

 it has to be placed in large launches at the openings of the island, in 

 order to convey it to the vessels. These launches are liable to be fre- 

 quently broken to pieces, owing to the desolatecharacter of that island. 

 On the 23d of August last, availing myself of a period of fair weather, 

 I came to the determination of mooring the vessel with a chain to the 

 shore, in a cove or small harbor formed by the southern isle. This 

 cove is somewhat sheltered by the island, and I remained there 

 through the whole night, with uneasiness, for the want of cables. On 

 the following day an American bark made her appearance near me, 

 and was moored in the same fashion. Her captain afterwards came 

 on board, and on my inquiring into the object of his coming to the 

 island, he replied that he came freighted from Boston to load with 

 guano ; that the bark was called the Tom Corwin, Captain Hiram 

 Burt, and that they had been assured that they would find persons on 

 the island who would deliver to them the cargo. After this state- 

 ment^ he told me that they took the loose stones to which the guano 

 adhered, ground them, and mixed them with Peruvian guano. This 

 intimation of the captain was caused by some bags filled with stone 

 which I had found on the island. 



After being there for two hours, he set sail for Caracao. From that 

 date I have nothing more to add, continuing always on my cruise be- 

 tween those islands and the coast of Paraguana, meeting on the latter 

 many Dutch and Venezuelan vessels which were going to load with 

 salt at the saline of Guaranao. 



On the 26th of the same month, on our water giving out, I went to 

 obtain some at the point of La Macolla; I there found a sunken 

 launch full of water. I then went ashore, when some individuals in- 

 formed me that they lived on the grazing farm of Senor Luis Hermoso ; 

 that that launch had brought from the island of Oruba twenty-four 

 persons, a body of laborers, which the Americans had for working at 

 the guano^ and that the captain of the bark which had loaded with 

 guano on those islands was about to convey them to Oruba; but being 

 prevented by the strong currents and the scarcity of provisions, and 

 not being able to go to that island^ the captain determined to give 

 the launch of the vessel to these individuals, in order that they might 

 transport themselves to that island ; but this being also prevented by 

 the currents, they left the launch at anchor, and afterwards embarked 

 in a small sloop. The launch is in my possession. 



Yesterday I anchored in this port, where I had been on the 13th of 

 the last month, and left on obtaining provisions, and to-morrow I shall 

 set sail for the Monges, where I shall continue, in order to fulfill my 

 instructions. 



[ <, All of which I have to communicate to you, in order that you may 

 deign to lay it before the supreme government. 



I am, with every attention and respect, your obedient servant, 



P. S. LAKOCHE. 



[SEAL.j Gutierrez. 



