216 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 



of which were sold to some German ad- 

 venturers by the Spanish government, were, 

 like their brethren in Mexico, Peru, &c., 

 sacrificed to the thirst of gain on the part 

 of their oppressors ; but a considerable In- 

 dian population took refuge in the forests 

 upon the banks of the Orinoco, and were 

 established in the mountains ; their descend- 

 ants are still seated in those situations, and 

 far from being diminished, their number 

 has considerably increased. 



A similar increase has taken place ge- 

 nerally amongst the Indian population in 

 that part of America which is within the 

 tropics; and it is estimated that, in both 

 the Americas, there still exist upwards 

 of six millions of Indians ; that is to say, 

 of the original copper-coloured race. As I 

 have already stated, however, the tendency 

 to increase is much greater in Mexico 



