6b5 



in great numbers * to the Maragnon by the Rio 

 Japura, coming from the eastern declivity of the 

 Andes of New Grenada. Now, it is precisely 

 between the Guayavero, which joins the Gua- 

 viare, and the Caqueta, which takes lower down 

 the name of Japura,, that the country of the 

 Omagua appears to be situate, of which the ad- 

 venturers of Coro and Tocuyo in vain attempted 

 the conquest. There is no doubt a striking contrast 

 between the present barbarism of the Otomacs, 

 and the ancient civilization of the Omaguas ; but 

 all parts of the latter nation were not perhaps 

 alike advanced in civilization, and the example 

 of tribes fallen into complete barbarism are un- 

 happily but too common in the history of our 

 species. Another point of resemblance may be 

 remarked between the Otomacs and the Oma- 

 guas. Both of these nations are celebrated 

 among all the tribes of the Oroonoko and the 

 Amazon for the frequent use which they make of 

 caoutchouc, or the inspissated milk of the euphor- 

 biaceae and the urticeae. 



* I do not admit, with Mr. de la Condamine, that the whole 

 nation of the Omaguas came from the north. (See the learned 

 researches of Mr. Vater on the ancient seats of that powerful 

 people, tolerably advanced in civilization, in Mithridates, 

 vol. iii, pL 1, p. 598.) The Om-aguas or En-aguas called 

 themselves also Aguas (A can ha, p. 24). For this reason, no 

 doubt, the province of Papamcnc, or of ike Omaguas, bore 

 the name of Dit-Agua. (Fray Pedro &imt>n, p. 340.) 



