THE CHIEF JAVITA. 
353 
shrub in flower, or bearing fruit; it appears to belong to the 
family of the leguminous plants, the chemical properties of 
which are singularly varied. We dreaded so much the 
sufferings to which we had been exposed, that we constant v 
kept some branches of the uzao in our boat, till we reached 
San Carlos. This shrub grows in abundance on the banks 
of the Pimichin. Why has no remedy been discovered lor 
the irritation produced by the sting of the zancudoa, as well 
as for that occasioned by the aradores or microscopic acari ? 
In 1755, before the expedition for fixing the. boundaries, 
better known by the name ot the expedition of Solano, the 
whole country between the missions of Javita and San Bal- 
thasar was regarded as dependent on Brazil. The Portuguese 
had advanced from the llio Negro, by the portage of the Cano 
Pimichin, as far as the banks of the Temi. An Indian chief 
of the name of Javita, celebrated for his courage and his 
spirit of enterprise, was the ally of the Portuguese. He 
pushed his hostile incursions from the liio Jupura, or 
Caqueta, one of the great tributary streams of the Amazon, 
by the rivers TJaupe and X - i o, as far as the black waters of 
the Temi and the Tuamini, a distance of more than a 
hundred leagues. He was furnished with letters patent, 
which authorised him “to bring the Indians from the forest 
for the conquest of souls.*’ He availed himseli amply ot 
this permission; but bis incursions had an object which was 
not altogether spiritual, that of making slaves to sell to the 
Portuguese. When Solano, the second chief of the expedi- 
tion of the boundaries, arrived at San Fernando de Atabapo,. 
he had Javita seized, in one of his incursions to the banks of 
the Temi. He treated him with gentleness, and succeeded 
in gainino- him over to the interests of the Spanish govern- 
ment by promises that were not fulfilled. The Portuguese, 
who had already formed some stable settlements in these 
countries, were driven back as far as the lower part ol the 
liio Negro; and the mission of San Antonio, ot which the 
more usual name is Javita, so called after its. Indian founder, 
was removed farther north of the sources of the Tuammi, to 
the spot where it is now established. This captain, Javita, 
Was still living, at an advanced age, when we proceeded to the 
liio Negro. He was an Indian of great vigour ol mind and 
body, lie spoke Spanish with facility, and preserved a certain 
VOL. II, 2 A 
