Journey from Kalacoon to the Orinocco. 95 
After reading some formal preliminary, I was informed that my presence was 
an attempt on the dignity of the Venezuelan Government, or words to that effect 
and thatI was not allowed to carry out the instructions given me by the Governor 
of British Guiana and I must leave the country by way of Las Tablas and Bolivar, 
and that I might go whenever I pleased but only in that direction. 
I informed the Governor that I had not come prepared to leave the Country 
by the way he desired, and had not the necessary funds for the purpose. He 
replied that he would be willing to advance me any sum I required, and I after- 
wards received £50 from the Treasurer, and which amount was repaid to him 
after my arrival at Bolivar. A copy of the proceedings before the Governor 
(which I asked for) was given to me and on my return to Georgetown, with other 
papers connected with my journey were handed to the Government Secretary. 
After the examination and previous to my departure, the Governor invited 
me to «s residence, and asa private gentleman was both courteous and agree- 
able, introducing me to many Officials and others I met at his house. 
I had now to make my arrangements to leave Guacipati by the way directed 
by the Governor. On enquiry I found it could not be before the 22nd on which 
day the Correo o* Mail left for Las Tablas. For the purpose of my journey I had 
to hire a mule and a man to bring it back. Iwas advised by those acquainted 
with the customs of the locality to have this mule brought and stabled at my lodg- 
ings the night before starting, or, after paying for it, and when ready to leave, I 
would likely find the animal wanting, and some excuse as to its having got away 
would be my only redress unless I wasted an indefinite time until it could be re- 
covered. [ did as advised, and in company with some German gentlemen left 
Guacipati for Las Tablas at 3 a. m.on 22nd of January, 1888. The members of 
the Cavalcade with which I travelled advised this early start to enable us to 
keep ahead of the party travelling with the Correo that would leave later the same 
morning. This was done withthe object of getting food at the various halting 
places on the journey. If we let the party that travelled with the Correo precede 
us, or went with it, there was great liklihood that they would consume all the food 
to be had at the posadas or that we should get very little on our arrival after them. 
The mule provided for me unfortunately had some sort of skin disease. 
Whether from this cause or the fact of my being a bad horseman, | was always 
in the rear of the procession and the day before arriving at Las Tablas while 
trying to urge the mule on it ran me against a tree, my shin was bruised and 
some of the scurf from the mule got into it. I suffered for several years from 
the effects of this accident, and have been crippled in my movements ever since. 
On the 24th at midday I arrived at Las Tablas and left there in the evening of 
the same day for Bolivar in the steamer “ Nutrius.” On my arrival at Bolivar 
next day I was not allowed to land with the passengers and had to await the 
arrival of the British Consul. He arrived in a short time and took me to the 
Hotel Bolivar where I remained during my stay in the city. A shor ttime after 
my arrival I went with the Consul to the office of the Delegado, Dr. Jesus Menoz 
Tebaar who read a document to me in Spanish, the substance of which was to 
inform me that the action o General Ybarra, the Governor of the Yuruari 
territorio in connection with myself was approved of. During my stay in 
