368 SPANISH AMERICA. 



At this period, Arismendi raised the pa - 

 triot standard in the island of La Margarita ; 

 and having several times defeated the Spa- 

 nish garrison, he, at the same time that 

 Carthagena surrendered to Morillo, took 

 possession of a part of the island. For 

 the purpose of aiding this force., Bolivar 

 lost no time in planning an expedition ; 

 associating himself w^ith Brion, a native of 

 Cura^oa, who had served in the Venezuelan 

 flotilla, and who had been admitted to the 

 privileges of a citizen of Carthagena, for 

 his services in that province. Brion, being 

 a man of property, defrayed the expenses 

 of the expedition, and was appointed to 

 the command of the naval force. Bolivar 

 having assembled the emigrants from Vene- 

 zuela, and a part of the garrison which had 

 evacuated Carthagena, they were embarked 

 on board thirteen transports, which, with 

 two ships of war, sailed from Aux Cayes 

 the end of March 1816. 



