suprnEssioN op the jestjxts. 
291 
building not excepting the foundations of the pyramids 
erected by the french savans for the measurement of the 
meridian, is regarded as Inga pilea* that is, the work of 
ne Inca; so on the Orinoco every hidden treasure can 
elong only to the Jesuits, an order which, no doubt 
governed the missions better than the Capuchins and 
e monks ot the Observance, but whose riches and 
success in the civilization of the Indians have been much 
l f ' Xa ggorated. When the Jesuits of Santa Fe were arrested, 
«mse heaps of piastres, those emeralds of Muzo, those bars 
gold ot Choco, which the enemies of the company sup- 
posed they possessed, were not found in their dwellings. 
. Cite a respectable testimony, which proves incon- 
testibly, that the viceroy of New Granada had not warned 
, e J es mts of Santa Fe of the danger with which they were 
menaced. Don Vicente Orosco, an engineer officer 'in the 
panish army, related to me that, being arrived at An- 
'Uftura, Don Manuel Centurion, to arrest the mis- 
onanes of Carichana, he met an Indian boat that was 
yoing down the Eio Meta. The boat being manned with 
0 l<llims "'bo could speak none of the tongues of the country 
&ave rise to suspicions. After useless researches, a bottle 
as at length discovered, containing a letter, in which the 
/Superior of the company residing at Santa Fe informed the 
Missionaries of the Orinoco of the persecutions to which 
r e Jesuits were exposed in New Grenada. This letter 
commended no measure of precaution ; it was short, with- 
ut ambiguity, and respectful towards the government 
8 everity rderS W6re executed with useless und unreasonable 
of A tures had conducted our boat through 
Qcl raudales ’ and seemed web satisfied with the slight re- 
mpence we gave them. They gain little by this employ- 
y. ;] li , ’ ai| d m order to give a just idea of the poverty and 
0 v ° commerce in the missions of the Orinoco, I shall 
boat that durin g three years, with the exception of the 
Sail Vi 86 -? 1 * Muuuub.V to Angostura by the commander of 
t] lp t/arlos du Eio Negro, to fetch the pay of the soldiers 
missionary had seen but five canoes of the Upper 
Pilea (properly in Quichua pirca), wall of the Inca. 
C 2 
