350 



try south of the Cataracts of Atures, as ex- 

 tremely pernicious to health. In a region where 

 travelling is so uncommon, there seems to be 

 a pleasure in exaggerating to strangers the dif- 

 ficulties arising from the climate, the animals, 

 and the Indians. We were yet little accustom- 

 ed to the means of discouragement employed 

 by the planters, with a candour at once simple 

 and affectionate ; but we persisted in the project 

 we had formed. We could rely upon the in- 

 terest and solicitude of the governor of Cu- 

 mana, Don Vicente Emparan, as well as on 

 the recommendations of the Franciscan monks, 

 who are the real masters of the shores of the 

 Oroonoko. 



Fortunately for us, one of those monks, J uan 

 Gonzales, was at that time at Cumana. This 

 young monk was only a lay brother, but 

 he was enlightened, highly intelligent, and full 

 of spirit and courage. He had the misfortune 

 shortly after his arrival on the coast to displease 

 his superiors, upon the election of a new Di- 

 rector of the Missions of Piritoo, which is a 

 period of great agitation in the Convent of New 

 Barcelona. The victorious party exercised so 

 general a retaliation, that the lay brother could 

 not escape. He was sent to Esmeralda, the 

 last mission of the upper Oroonoko, famous for 

 an innumerable quantity of noxious insects, 

 with which the air is continually filled. Fray 



