Sz The LIFE of 



merica, was the chief object of this expedition ; 

 Don Carvajal reprefented to the king that this 

 would be the belt opportunity to get acquainted 

 with the products of the interior parts of this 

 extenfive continent : that France and England 

 were great only by the knowledge and ufe of 

 the fine products 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 productions, which 

 could now be procured by the addition of a 

 good natural hiftorian. This being at laft agreed 

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

 ecution, and Loefling ordered to go with his af- 

 firmants to Cadiz. From whence they fet fail 

 February the fifteenth, ,1754. ThejpafTage was 

 happy and fhort they paffed February the 

 twenty-fourth, the Canary IJlands ; April the 

 third, the ille of 'T abago, the fourth, the ifles of 

 Granada and Margarita, and arrived April the 

 eleventh at Cumana, the capital of the province 

 of New Andalufia or Cumana. 

 1 This town is under the tenth degree north la- 

 titude. Their fummer begins at Chriftmas, and 

 ends at Midfumrner-day, from which time to 



Chriftmas., 



