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intolerance. They are not occupied by the 

 heresies of Europe, except perhaps on the con- 

 fines of Dutch Guyana, where the preachers 

 think proper also to go on missions. The pre- 

 sident insisted no longer on the writing which I 

 was to sign, and we availed ourselves of the few 

 moments that remained, to discuss with frank- 

 ness the situation of the country, and the hope 

 of making the Indians participate in the benefits 

 of civilization. I insisted on the evil, which had 

 arisen from the entradas, or hostile incursions ; 

 on the little advantage, which the natives de- 

 rived from the fruits of their labours ; on the 

 journeys which they were compelled to make for 

 concerns that were not their own ; finally, on 

 the necessity of bestowing some education in a 

 particular college on the young ecclesiastics, who 

 were called to govern very numerous communi- 

 ties. The president seemed to listen to me placidly. 

 I believe, however, he would have wished (no 

 doubt from zeal for the sciences), that those who 

 gather plants, and examine rocks, would re- 

 nounce that indiscreet interest in the copper- 

 coloured race, and in the affairs of human 

 society in general. This desire is common 

 enough in both worlds ; and is found wherever 

 authority is disquieted, because it believes itself 

 not firmly seated. 



We remained only one day at San Fernando 

 de Atabapo, although this village, embellished 



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