682 



Since that period, the southern part of the Lla- 

 nos has been considerably peopled ; and the 

 road, that leads from the valleys of Aragua by 

 Calabozo to San Fernando de Apure and Ca- 

 bruta, is much frequented. The chief of the 

 famous expedition of the boundaries made choice 

 of the latter place in 1754, to establish yards for 

 building the vessels necessary for conveying his 

 troops intended for the Upper Oroonoko. The 

 little mountain, that rises north-east of Cabruta, 

 can be discerned from afar in the steppes, and 

 serves as a landmark for travellers. 



We embarked in the morning at Caycara ; 

 and driving with the current of the Oroonoko, 

 we first passed the mouth of the Rio Cuchivero, 

 where an ancient tradition has placed the Ai- 

 keam-benanos, or women without husbands # ; 

 and we there reached the paltry village of Alta 

 Gracia, which bears the name of a Spanish town. 

 It was near this place, that Don Jose de Ytur- 

 riaga founded the pueblo de Cuidad Real, which 

 still figures on the most modern maps, though 

 it has not existed for fifty years past, on account 

 of the insalubrity of it's situation. After having 

 passed the point where the Oroonoko turns to 

 the east, forests are constantly seen on the right 

 bank, and the Llanos or steppes of Venezuela on 

 the left. The forests, which border the river, 



* See above, p. 392. 



