BAFTS OF THE NATITKS. 231 



Missions of the Orinoco, formed the project of founding a 

 city at the mouth of the Meta, under the name of the Villa 

 de San Carlos. Indolence, and the dread of tertian fevers, 

 have prevented the execution of this project ; and all that 

 has ever existed of the city of San Carlos,' is a coat of arms 

 painted on fine parchment, with an enormous cross erected 

 on the bank of the Meta. The Guahibos, who, it is said, 

 are some thousands in number, have become so insolent, 

 that, at the time of our passage by Carichana, they sent 

 word to the missionary that they would come on rafts, and 

 burn his village. These rafts (valzas), which we had an 

 opportunity of seeing, are scarcely three feet broad, and 

 twelve feet long. They carry only two or three Indians ; 

 but fifteen or sixteen of these rafts are fastened to each 

 other with the stems of the paullinia, the dolichos, and other 

 creeping plants. It is difficult to conceive how these small 

 craft remain tied together in passing the rapids. Many 

 fugitives from the villages of the Casanare and the Apure 

 have joined the Guahibos, and taught them the practice of 

 eating beef, and preparing hides. The farms of San Vicente, 

 Kubio, and San Antonio, have lost great numbers of their 

 horned cattle by the incursions of the Indians, who also 

 prevent travellers, as far as the junction of the Casanare, 

 from sleeping on the shore in going up the Meta. It often 

 happens, while the waters are low, that the traders of New 

 Grenada, some of whom still visit the encampment of Para- 

 ruma, are killed by the poisoned arrows of the Guahibos. 



From the mouth of the Meta, the Orinoco appeared to us 

 to be freer of shoals and rocks. We navigated in a channel 

 five hundred toises broad. The Indians remained rowing m 

 the boat, without towing or pushing it forward with the^ 

 arms, and wearying us with their wild cries. We passo^ 

 the Can os of Uita and Endava on the west. It was night 

 when we reached the Randal de Tabaje. The Indians would 

 not hazard passing the cataract; and we slept on a very 

 incommodious spot, on the shelf* of a rock, with a slope 

 of more than eighteen degrees, and of which the crevices 

 sheltered a swarm of bats. We heard the cries of the 

 jaguar very near us during the whole night. They were 

 answered by our great dog in lengthened bowlings. I 

 waited the appearance of the stars in vain: the sky waa 



