561 



that some fugitive Negroes from Dutch Guyana, 

 proceeding toward the west (beyond the isthmus 

 between the sources of the Rio Carony and the 

 Rio Branco), had joined the independant In- 

 dians. He attempted an entrada (hostile incur- 

 sion), without having obtained the permission of 

 the governor ; the desire of procuring African 

 slaves, better fitted for labour than the copper- 

 coloured race, was a far more powerful motive 

 than that of zeal for the progress of geography. 

 I had an opportunity at Esmeralda, and at the 

 Rio Negro, of interrogating several intelligent 

 military men, who had made a part of that ex- 

 pedition. Bovadilla arrived without difficulty 

 as far as the little Randal * opposite the Ge- 

 hette ; but having advanced to the foot of the 

 rocky dike, that forms the great cataract, he 

 was suddenly attacked, while he was breakfast- 

 ing, by the Guahariboes and Guaycas, two war- 

 like tribes, celebrated for the activity of the 

 curare, with which their arrows are empoisoned. 

 The Indians occupied the rocks, that rise in the 

 middle of the river, and seeing the Spaniards 

 without bows, and having no knowledge of fire- 

 arms, they provoked the whites, whom they 

 believed to be without defence. Several of the 



* This cataract is called Raudal de abaxo, in opposition to 

 the great Raudal de Guaharibos, which is situate higher up 

 toward the east. 



VOL. V. 2 o 



