331 
THE CHIEF CITSEEIT. 
state of these countries, where the vanquished nations 
have become gradually extinct, leaving no other signs of their 
existence than a few words of their language, mixed with 
that of the conquerors. In the north, beyond the cataracts, 
the preponderant nations were at first the Caribs and the 
Cabres ; towards the south, on the Upper Orinoco, the 
Guaypunaves ; and on the Bio Negro, the Marepizanos and 
the Manitivitanos. The long resistance which the Cabres, 
united under a valiant chief, had made to the Caribs, 
became fatal to the latter subsequently to the year 1 720. 
They at first vanquished their enemies near the mouth of 
the Bio Caura ; and a great number of Caribs perished in 
a precipitate flight, between the rapids of Tomo and the 
Isla del Infierno. The prisoners were devoured; and, by 
one of those refinements of cunning and cruelty which arc 
common to the savage nations of both North and South 
America, the Cabres spared the life of one Carib, whom 
they forced to climb up a tree to witness this barbarous 
spectacle, and carry back the tidings to the vanquished^ 
The triumph of Tep, the chief of the Cabres, was but of 
short duration. The Caribs returned in such great numbers 
that oidy a feeble remnant of the Cabres was left on the 
banks of the Cuchivero. 
Cocuy and Cuseru were carrying on a war of extermim 
ation on the Upper Orinoco when Solano arrived at the 
mouth of the Guaviare. The former had embraced the 
cause of the Portuguese ; the latter was a friend of the 
J esuits, and gave them warning whenever the Manitivitanos 
were marching against the Christian establishments of 
Atures and Carichana. Cuseru became a Christian only a 
few days before his death ; but in battle he had for some 
time worn on his left hip a crucifix, given him by the mi-' 
sionaries, and which he believed rendered him invulnerable- 
We were told an anecdote that paints the violence of h 1 ® 
character. He had married the daughter of an Indian chief t 
of the Bio Temi. In a paroxysm of rage against his father- 
in-law, he declared to his wife that he was going to figm 1 
against him. She reminded him of the courage and singula* 
strength of her father; when Cuseru, without uttering :l 
single word, took a poisoned arrow, and plunged it int° 
her bosom. The arrival rfi a small body of Spaniards r° 
