294 Bogota'. 



they have achieved, and the liberty they 

 have acquired ; as the majority of these 

 holidays are to commemorate some great 

 and decisive steps, which tended to the re- 

 cov3ry and security of their freedom from 

 the tyranny and base oppression of their 

 Spanish tyrants. 



Having some spare time, previous to the 

 period at which I expected the vessel des- 

 tined for the pearl fishery to arrive, I de- 

 termined to employ it usefully, in regaining 

 the sea-coast by the little frequented route 

 of Chocd, instead of going by the more 

 direct way of Maracaybo — hoping to deve- 

 lope some of the riches of the Andes. I 

 was delayed some time by the difficulty 

 of procuring money, no one being inclined 

 to take bills either on Jamaica or London, 

 not even at a large discount; thinking it 

 quite in moderation to demand fifty per 

 cent, discount. This state of things cannot. 



