489 



slaves (pottos) for hatchets, fish-hooks, and glass 

 trinkets, induced the Indian tribes to make war 

 upon one another. The Guipunaves, led on by 

 their valiant and cruel chief, Macapu, descend- 

 ed from the banks of the Inirida toward the 

 confluence of the Atabapo and the Oroonoko. 

 " They sold," says the missionary Gili, 66 the 

 slaves whom they did not eat*." The jesuits of 

 the Lower Oroonoko became uneasy at this 

 state of things, and the superior of the Spanish 

 missions, father Roman, the intimate friend of 

 Gumilla, took the courageous resolution of 

 crossing the Great Cataracts, and visiting the 

 Guipunaves, without being escorted by Spanish 

 soldiers. He left Carichana the 4th of Febru- 

 ary, 1744 ; and having arrived at the confluence 

 of the Guaviare, the Atabapo, and the Oroonoko, 

 where the last mentioned river suddenly changes 

 it's course from east to west, to a direction from 

 south to north, he saw from afar a canoe as 

 large as his own, and filled with men in Euro- 

 pean dresses. He caused a crucifix to be placed 

 at the bow of his boat in sign of peace, accord- 

 ing to the custom of the missionaries when they 

 navigate in a country unknown to them. The 



* " J. Guipunavi avventizj abitatori dell' Alto Orinoco, 

 recavan de' danni incredibili alle vicine mansuete nazioni j 

 ^iltre mangiandone, altre conducendoue schiave ne' Porto- 

 ghesi dominj/' (Gilt, torn, i, p. 31.) See also above, chap, 

 xxii, p. 208. 



