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of the court, and the recommendations of a 

 powerful minister, our abode in the Spanish 

 climates would expose us to numberless incon- 

 veniences, if we did not succeed in inspiring 

 some personal interest in those who govern those 

 vast countries. Mr. de Emparan loved the 

 sciences too well, to deem it strange that we 

 should come from so great a distance to collect 

 plants, and determine the position of a few 

 places by astronomical methods. He suspected 

 no other motives for our voyage than those men- 

 tioned in our passports ; and the public marks 

 of consideration, which he gave us during a long 

 abode in his government, contributed greatly to 

 procure us a favourable welcome in every part 

 of South America. 



We disembarked our instruments toward the 

 evening, and we had the pleasure to find, that 

 none had been damaged. We hired a spacious 

 house, the situation of which was favourable for 

 astronomical observations. We enjoyed an 

 agreeable coolness, when the breeze arose ; the 

 windows were without glasses, and even wanted 

 those paper panes, which are often the substi- 

 tutes of glass at Cumana. The whole of the 

 passengers aboard the Pizarro left the vessel, 

 but the recovery of those who had been attacked 

 by the fever, was very slow. We saw some, 

 who a month after, notwithstanding the care 

 bestowed on them by their countrymen, were 



