250 



CARIB MISSIONS. 



America was discovered. They have been exter- 

 minated in the West India islands and the coasts of 

 Darien, but in the provinces of New-Barcelona and 

 Spanish Guiana have formed populous villages, under 

 the government of the missions. Humboldt esti- 

 mates the number inhabiting the llanos of Piritoo 

 and the banks of the Caroni and Cuyuni at more 

 than 35,000, and the total amount of the pure race at 

 40,000. 



The missionary led the travellers into several 

 huts, where they found the greatest order and clean- 

 liness, but were shocked by the torments that the 

 women inflicted on their infants, for the purpose of 

 raising the flesh in alternate bands from the ankle 

 to the top of the thigh ; a practice which the monks 

 had in vain attempted to abolish. This effect was 

 produced by narrow ligatures, which seemed to 

 obstruct the circulation of the blood, although it did 

 not weaken the action of the muscles. The fore- 

 head, however, was not flattened, but left in its 

 natural form. 



On leaving the mission the philosophers had some 

 difficulty in settling with their Indian muleteers, who 

 had discovered among the baggage the skeletons 

 brought from the cavern of Ataruipe, and were per- 

 suaded that the animals which carried such a load 

 would perish on the journey. The Rio Cari was 

 crossed in a boat, and the Rio de Agua Clara by 

 fording. The same objects everywhere recurred; 

 huts constructed of reeds and roofed with skins; 

 mounted men guarding the herds: cattle, horses, 

 and mules running half wild. No sheep or goats 

 were seen, these animals being unable to escape from 

 the jaguars. 



On the 15th they arrived at the Villa del Pao, 

 where they found some fruit-trees as well as cocoa- 

 palms, which properly belong to the coast. As they 

 advanced the sky became clearer, the soil more 

 dusty, and the atmosphere more fiery. The intense 



