55 



heated may not disfigure or displace the sum- 

 mits of mountains seen under angles of too 

 little altitude. Signals by firing gunpowder, the 

 reflection of which toward the sky is distinguish- 

 ed at such a distance, will be of considerable 

 assistance. I thought it might be useful to 

 mention in this place what I had derived from 

 my knowledge of the localities, and my study 

 of the geography of America, Mr. Lanz, a dis- 

 tinguished geometrician, who unites with an 

 extensive knowledge of every branch of mathe- 

 matics the practical use of astronomical instru- 

 ments, is at present employed in improving the 

 geography of those countries ; and in executing, 

 under the auspices of the free government of 

 Venezuela, a part of the projects, to which in the 

 year 1799 I in vain called the attention of the 

 Spanish ministry. 



We rested on the night of the 16th of July in 

 the Indian village of Santa Cruz de Cachipo. 

 This mission was founded in 1749 by the union 

 of several Caribbee families ; who inhabited the 

 inundated and unhealthy banks of the Lagune- 

 tas de Auache, opposite the confluence of the 

 Zir Purnay with the Oroonoko. We lodged at 

 the house of the missionary* ; and, on examining 

 the registers of the parish, we saw how ra- 

 pid a progress the prosperity of the community 



* Fray Jose de las Pkdras. 



