253 



He retired into the woods, and' founded, with 

 two hundred of his companions, a town, where 

 he was proclaimed king*. Miguel, this new 

 king-, was a friend to pomp and parade. He 

 caused his wife Guiomar, to assume the title of 

 queen ; and, according* to Oviedo % he ap- 

 pointed ministers and counsellors of state, offi- 

 cers of la casa real, and even a Negro bishop. 

 He had soon after the boldness to attack the 

 neighbouring town of Nueva Segovia de Bar- 

 quesimeto ; but, repulsed by Diego de Losada, 

 he perished in the fight. This African monar- 

 chy was succeeded at Nirgua by a republic of 

 Zamboes, the descendants of Negroes and In- 

 dians. The whole municipality (the cabildo) 

 is composed of men of colour, to whom the 

 king of Spain has given the title of " his faithful 

 and loyal subjects, the Zamboes of Nirgua* 

 Few families of Whites will inhabit a country, 

 where the system that prevails is so contrary to 

 their pretensions ; and the little town is called 

 in derision la republica de Zambos y Mulatos. 

 It is as imprudent, to cede the government to a 

 single cast, as to segregate that cast by depriv- 

 ing it of it's natural rights. 



If the hot vallies of Aroa, of Yaracuy, and of 

 the Rio Tocuyo, celebrated for their excellent 

 timber, be rendered feverous by the luxury of 



* Hist, de Venezuela, vol. \ f p, 134, 



