360 



ble trade lasted till about the year 1756 ; when 

 the expedition of Solano, and the establishment 

 of the missions on the banks of the Rio Negro, 

 put an end to it. Ancient laws of Charles 

 V and Philip III had forbidden * under the 

 most severe penalties (such as the being ren- 

 dered incapable of civil employment, and a 

 fine of two thousand piastres), " converting the 

 natives to the faith by violent means, and send- 

 ing armed men against them but notwith- 

 standing these wise and humane laws, the Rio 

 Negro, in the middle of the last century, was no 

 farther interesting in European politics, accord- 

 ing to the expression of M. de la Condamine, 

 than as it facilitated the entradas, or hostile incur- 

 sions, and favoured the purchase of slaves. The 

 Caribbees, a trading and warlike people, received 

 from the Portugueze and the Dutch knives, 

 fish-hooks, small mirrors, and all sorts of glass 

 beads. They excited the Indian Chiefs to make 

 war against each other, bought their prisoners, 

 and carried off themselves by stratagem or force 

 all whom they found in their way. These in- 

 cursions of the Caribbees comprehended an im- 

 mense extent of land ; they went from the banks 



* Ley de Carlos V, (Valladolid, 26 En. 1523) que no se 

 puede hacer guerra a los Indios para que reciben la Santa Fe Ca- 

 tolica. Ley de Filippe III (del 10 Oct. 1618) que no se envia 

 gente armada a reducir Indios. 



