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the islands formed by the Delta of the Oroonoko. 

 The number of these is generally reckoned at six 

 or eight thousand ; but this computation appears 

 to me to be exaggerated. Except a few families 

 of Guaraounoes, that roam occasionally in the 

 marshy grounds * covered with the moriche 

 palm, between the Cano de Manamo and the 

 Guarapiche, consequently on the continent it- 

 self, there have not been for these thirty years 

 any Indian savages in New Andalusia. 



I use with regret the word savage, because it 

 indicates a difference of cultivation between the 

 reduced Indian, living in the Missions, and the 

 free or independent Indian, which is often belied 

 by facts. In the forests of South America exist 

 tribes of natives, who, peaceably united in villa- 

 ges, obey chiefs *f* 9 cultivate the plantain-tree, 

 cassava, and cotton, on a pretty extensive por- 

 tion of ground, and employ this last in weaving 

 hammocks. These people are scarcely more 

 barbarous than the naked Indians of the Mis- 

 sions, who have been taught to make the sign 

 of the cross. It is a very common error in 

 Europe, to look on all the natives not reduced 

 to a state of subjection, as roving hunters. 

 Agriculture existed on the continent long before 

 the arrival of the Europeans. It still exists be- 



* Los Morichales. 



t These chiefs are called pecanati, apoto, or sibierene. 



p 2 



