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Cucuta, where, on the banks of the RioTaehira, 

 virgin land yields an abundant produce, and of 

 the richest colour. 



We arrived very late at Maracay, and the 

 persons to whom we were recommended were 

 absent. Scarcely was our embarrassment per- 

 ceived by the inhabitants, when they contended 

 with each other in offering' to lodge us, to place 

 our instruments, and take care of our mules. 

 It has been said a thousand times, but the 

 traveller always feels the desire of repeating it 

 again, the Spanish colonies are the land of hos- 

 pitality : they are so even in those places, where 

 industry and commerce have diffused wealth 

 and improvement among the planters. A family 

 of Canarians received us with the most amiable 

 cordiality: an excellent repast was prepared 

 for us, and every thing was carefully avoided, 

 that might act as any restraint on us. The 

 master of the house * was travelling on com- 

 mercial business, and his young wife had lately 

 had the happiness of becoming a mother. She 

 was transported with joy, when she heard, that 

 on our return from the Rio Negro we should 

 proceed by the banks of the Oroonoko to 

 Angostura, where her husband was. We were 

 to bear him the tidings of the birth of his first 

 child. In those countries, as among the ancients, 



* Don Alexandre Gonzales. 



