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spect to carriage in the Spanish colonies, where 

 all merchandize is conveyed on the backs of 

 mules to the sea port. The soil of Guanaguana 

 is not less fertile than that of Aricagua, a small 

 neighbouring village, which has also preserved it's 

 ancient Indian name. An almuda of land, 1850 

 square toises, produces in good years from 25 to 

 30 fanegas of maize, each fanega weighing 100 

 pounds. But here, as every where else, where 

 the beneficence of nature retards the display of 

 industry, a very small number of acres are 

 cleared, and the culture of alimentary plants is 

 neglected. Scarcity of subsistence is felt, when-* 

 ever the harvest of maize is lost by a protracted 

 drought. The Indians of Guanaguana related 

 to us as a fact not uncommon, that, the pre- 

 ceding year, they, their wives, and their chil- 

 dren, had been for three months al monte $ that 

 is, wandering in the neighbouring forests, to 

 live on succulent plants, palm-cabbages, fern 

 roots, and fruits of wild trees. They did not 

 speak of the nomade life as of a state of priva- 

 tion. The missionary alone felt the inconve- 

 nience ; because the village had been deserted, 

 and the members of this little community, on 

 their return from the forests, were less docile 

 than before. 



The beautiful valley of Guanaguana stretches 

 toward the east, opening into the plains of Pun- 

 zera and Terecen. We wished to visit those 



