510 



superior groaned in his prison at Esmeralda, and 

 fell dangerously ill from the double influence of 

 the excessive heat, and the continual irritation 

 of the moschettoes. Happily for fallen power 

 the monks did not remain united. A missionary 

 of the Cassiquiare conceived serious alarms on 

 the issue of this affair ; he dreaded being sent a 

 prisoner to Cadiz, or, as they say in the colonies, 

 haxo pariido de registro ; fear made him change 

 his party, and he suddenly disappeared. Indians 

 were placed on the watch at the mouth of the 

 Atabapo, at the Great Cataracts, and wherever 

 the fugitive was likely to pass in order to reach 

 the Lower Oroonoko. Notwithstanding these 

 precautions, he arrived at Angostura, and thence 

 reached the college of the missions of Piritu ; 

 denounced his colleagues ; and was appointed, 

 in recompense of this information, to arrest 

 those with whom he had conspired against the 

 president of the missions*. At Esmeralda, 

 where the political events that have agitated 



* Two of the missionaries, considered as the leaders of the 

 insurrection were embarked at Angostura, in order to be tried 

 in Spain. The vessel in which they were conveyed became 

 leaky, and put into Spanish Harbour in the island of Trini- 

 dad. The governor Chacon interested himself in the fate of 

 the monks ; they were pardoned, a sally of vivacity somewhat 

 contrary to monastic discipline, and were again employed in 

 the missions. I was acquainted with them both during my 

 abode in South America. 



