CO MCNTCIPALITT OF KEGBOEB. 



ampelite. The minerals extracted from this shaft, which 

 were sent to me at Caracas, were quartz, non-auriferous 

 pyrites, and carbonated lead, crystallized in needles of a 

 silky lustre. 



In the early times of the conquest the working of the 

 mines of Nirgua and of Buria* was begun, notwithstanding 

 the incursions of the warlike nation of the Griraharas. In 

 this very district the accumulation of negro slaves in 1553 

 gave rise to an event bearing some analogy to the insur- 

 rection in St. Domingo. A negro slave excited an insur- 

 rection among the miners of the Real de San Felipe de 

 Buria. He retired into the woods, and founded, with two 

 hundred of his companions, a town, where he was proclaimed 

 king. Miguel, this new king, was a friend to pomp and 

 parade. He caused his wife &uiomar, to assume the title of 

 queen; and, according to Ovtedo, he appointed ministers 

 and counsellors of state, officers of the royal household, and 

 even a negro bishop. He soon after ventured to attack the 

 neighbouring town of Nueva Segovia de Barquesimeto ; but, 

 being repulsed by Diego de Losada, he perished in the conflict. 

 This African monarchy was succeeded at Nirgua by a republic 

 of Zamboes, the descendants of negroes and Indians. The 

 whole municipality (cabildo) is composed of men of colour 

 to whom the king of Spain has given the title of " his 

 faithful and loyal subjects, the Zamboes of JSTirgua." Few 

 families of Whites will inhabit a country where the system 

 of government is so adverse to their pretensions ; and the 

 little town is called in derision La republica de Zambos y 

 Mulatos. 



If the hot vallies of Aroa, of Taracuy, and of the Rio 

 Tocuyo, celebrated for their excellent timber, be rendered 

 feverish by luxuriance of vegetation, and extreme atmo- 

 spheric humidity, it is different in the savannahs of Monai 

 and Carora. These Llanos are separated by the moun- 

 tainous tract of Tocuyo and Nirgua from the great plains of 

 La Portuguesa and Calabozo. It is very extraordinary to 

 see barren savannahs loaded with miasmata. No marshy 

 ground is found there, but several phenomena indicate a 



* The valley of Buria, and the little river of the same name, com- 

 municate with the valley of the Rio Coxede, or the Rio de Barque* 



