6S 



dards, but each bears a star, which is the national 

 device. The soldiers are not clothed in uniform, 

 according to the European custom, but all wear be- 

 neath their usual dress cuirasses of leather, hardened 

 by a peculiar mode of dressing ; their shields and 

 helmets are also made of the same material. 



The cavalry is armed with swords and lances ; 

 the infantry with pikes or clubs pointed with iron. 

 They formerly employed bows and slings, in the 

 use of which they were very dexterous, but since 

 the arrival of the Spaniards, they have almost en- 

 tirely relinqy-iished them, experience having taught 

 them to avoid the destructive effect of their mus- 

 ketry, by immediately closing in and fighting hand 

 to hand with the enemy. 



The art of making gun- powder is as yet unknown 

 to these warlike people. Either they regard it but 

 little, or, what is more probable, those Spaniards 

 with whom the}/ have sometimes traded, would not, 

 if they were themselves acquainted with it, commu- 

 nicate to them the composition. It is, however, 

 believed that they made use at first of the greatest 

 exertions tp obtain the knowledge of this secret so 

 important in the present system of warfare. The 

 discovery of powder, is well ascertained to have 

 been owing more to accident than to the efforts of 

 human ingenuity, although some pretend that it was 

 known in China long before the period that it was 

 discovered in Europe. The inhabitants of the 

 country relate the following anecdote respecting 

 gun-powder, which, however fabulous and absurd it 

 may appear, is generally credited. The Arauca- 



Vol. II. I 



