138 
SITUATION Of THE TOWN, 
fathers had already penetrated beyond the great cataracts of 
Atures and Maypures, when the Andalusian Capuchins had 
scarcely readied the plains of Calabozo, from the coast and 
the valleys of Aragua. It would be difficult to explain these 
contrasts by the system according to which, the different 
monastic orders are governed ; for the aspect of the country 
contributes powerfully to the more or less rapid progress of 
the Missions. They extend but slowly into the interior of 
the land, over mountains, or in steppes, wherever they do 
not follow the course of a particular river. It will scarcely 
be believed, that the Villa de Fernando de Apure, only fifty 
leagues distant in a direct line from that part of the coast 
of Caracas which has been longest inhabited, was founded 
at no earlier a date than 1789. We were shown a parch- 
ment, full of fine paintings, containing the privileges of this 
little town. The parchment was sent from Madrid at the 
solicitation of the monks, whilst yet only a few huts of reeds 
were to be seen around a groat cross raised in the centre of 
the hamlet. The missionaries and the secular governments 
being alike interested in exaggerating in Europe what they 
have done to augment the culture and population of the 
provinces beyond sea, it often happens that names of towns 
and villages are placed on the list of new conquests, long 
before their foundation. 
The situation of San Fernando, on a large navigable river, 
near the month of another river which traverses the whole 
province of Varinas, is extremely advantageous for trade. 
Every production of that province, hides, cacao, cotton, and 
the indigo of Mijagual, which is of the first quality, passes 
through this town towai’ds the mouths of the Orinoco. 
During the season of rains large vessels go from Angostura 
as far as San Fernando de Apure, and by the Iiio Santo 
Domingo as far as Torunos, the port of the town of Varinas. 
At that period the inundations of the rivers, which form a 
labyrinth of brandies between the Apure, the Arauca, the 
Capanaparo, and the Sinaruco, cover a country of nearly 
four hundred square leagues. At this point, the Orinoco, 
turned aside from its course, not by neighbouring moun- 
tains, but by the rising of counterslopes, runs eastward 
instead of following its previous direction in the line of 
the meridian. Considering the surface of the globe as a 
