82 The L I F E of 



merlca, was the chief objedl of this expedition ; 

 Don Carvajal reprefented to the king that this 

 would be the bell opportunity to get acquainted 

 with the produfts of ,the interior parts of this 

 extenfive continent : that France and England 

 were great only by the knowledge and ufe of 

 the fine produds of their fettlements in Ameri- 

 ca ; that South America, no doubt, was richer 

 in them than any other part of the world, and that 

 nothing was wanting to reap the fame benefit 

 from the Spanifh colonies, than a nearer infpec- 

 tion into, and examination of, the American 

 plants, animals, and natural produ(?:ions, which 

 could now be procured by the addition of a 

 good natural hillorian. This being at laft agreed 

 'to by the king, the expedition was put into ex- 

 ecution, and Loefling ordered to go with his af- 

 fiflants to Cadiz, From when.ce they fet fail 

 February the fifteenth, 1754. The paiTage was 

 happy and Ihort ; they pafTed February the 

 twenty -fourth, the Canary IJlands ; April the 

 third, the ille of "Tabago^ the fourth, the illes of 

 Cranada and Margaritay and arrived April the 

 eleventh at Cumana^ the capital of the province 

 of Nezv Andalufia or Cumana, 



This town is under the tenth degree north la- 

 titude. Their fummer begins at Chriflmas, and 

 ends at Midfummer-day, from which time to 



ChriftmaSv 



