514 ALIA GEACIA 



more distant from the shore, and called Tecoma, the syn> 

 bolic figures are found, it is said, at the height of a hundred 

 feet. The Indians knew heretofore a road, that led by land 

 from Caycara to Demerara and Essequibo. 



On the northern bank of the Orinoco, opposite Caycara, 

 is the mission of Cabruta, founded by the Jesuit Botella, in 

 1740, as an advanced post against the Caribs. An Indian 

 village, known by the name of Cabritu,* had existed on the 

 same spot for several ages. At the time when this little 

 place became a Christian settlement, it was believed to be 

 situate in 5 latitude, or two degrees forty minutes more to 

 the south than I found it by direct observations made at 

 San Rafael, SHu ac la Boca del Bio Apure. No idea was 

 then conceived of the direction of a road that could lead by 

 land to Nueva Valencia and Caracas, which were supposed 

 to be at an immense distance. The merit of having first 

 crossed the Llanos, to go to Cabruta, from the Villa de 

 San Juan Baptista del Pao belongs to a woman. Father 

 Grili relates, that Dona Maria Bargas was so devoted to the 

 Jesuits, that she attempted herself to discover the way to 

 the missions. She was seen with astonishment to arrive at 

 Cabruta from the north. She took up her abode near the 

 fathers of St. Ignatius, and died in their settlements on the 

 banks of the Orinoco. Since that period, the northern part 

 of the Llanos has been considerably peopled ; and the road 

 leading from the valleys of Aragua by Calabozo to San Fer- 

 nando de Apure and Cabruta, is much frequented. The 

 chief of the famous expedition of the boundaries made choice 

 of the latter place in 1754, to establish dock-yards for build- 

 ing the vessels necessary for conveying his troops intended for 

 the Upper Orinoco. The little mountain, that rises north- 

 east of Cabruta, can be discerned from afar in the steppes, 

 and serves as a landmark for travellers. 



We embarked in the morning at Caycara; and driving 

 with the current of the Orinoco, we soon passed the mouth 

 of the Bio Cuchivero, which according to ancient tradition is 

 the country of the AiJceambenanos, or women without hus- 

 bands; and we there reached the paltry village of Alta Gracia, 

 which is called a Spanish town. It was near this place, that 



* A. cacique of Cabritu received Alonzo de Herrera at his dwelling, on 

 the expedition undertaken by Herrera for ascending the Orinoco in 1535. 



