HISTORICAL SKETCH. 431 



wounded at the attack of San Jose de Orufia, but was allowed 

 to retire unmolested. 



The colony at last began to enjoy some peace, and agriculture 

 to receive some share of attention. The principal article culti- 

 vated was cacao, which was proclaimed by Gumilla as superior, for 

 its fine aroma, to the cacao of Caracas and other places. It was 

 so much praised that the crops were bought beforehand. The 

 Governors, at this period, were Felipe de Antieda, Christobal de 

 Guzman, Pedro de Yarza, Martin Perez de Anda y Salazar. 

 Don Felipe de Artieda it was who, at the urgent request of 

 the colonists, obtained such changes in the organisation of the 

 missions as permitted the employment of the Indians as labourers 

 on private properties. The Reverend Fathers strenuously opposed 

 the change, but a Royal Cedula, dated 15th August, 1703, 

 changed the then existing missions into doctrinal missions, with 

 a civil chief appointed by the Governor, under the title of 

 corregidor, or magistrate. Three doctrinal missions were then 

 established; viz., that of Tacarigua, among the Tacariguas tribe; 

 that of Cuara or Caura, at the entrance of the valley of the same 

 name; and that of Arauca or Arouca, on the territory of the 

 Aruacas Indians. 



The prosperity of the colony had now reached its culminating 

 point, cacao selling at a very high price. But in the year 1727, 

 according to Gumilla, not a disease of the trees exactly, but a 

 blight attacking the pods under certain atmospherical influences, 

 destroyed the crops. The trees were apparently healthy, got 

 flowers and young fruits, but none came to maturity. Cacao 

 cultivation being the only resource of the island, complete, irretriev- 

 able ruin followed. The starving people abandoned the colony, 

 and the population, exclusive of the Indians, had been reduced, in 

 the year 1733, to the scanty number of 162 adults; of these 

 twenty-eight only were white. The colonists had sought refuge 

 on the neighbouring continent, taking with them their slaves, 

 plate, and jewellery. The public revenue fell to the derisory 

 sum of 231 dols. Rank vegetation overran the cultivated fields 

 and covered the dwellings. 



The Governor, Don Aredondo, had retired from the govern- 

 ment in 1730, and delivered it up to Don Bartolomeo de Adunate 

 y Rada, who died three years later. Under his administration, 

 Trinidad had sunk in the deepest misery. 



