514 
ALTA GEACIA 
more distant from the shore, and called Tecoma, the sym- 
bolic figures are found, it is said, at the height of a hundred 
feet. The Indians knew heretofore a road, that led by land 
from Caycara to Demerara and Essequibo. 
On the northern bank of the Orinoco, opposite Caycara, 
is the mission of Cabruta, founded by the Jesuit Rotella, in 
1740, as an advanced post against the Caribs. _ An Indian 
village, known by the name of Cabritu,* had existed on the 
same spot for several ages. At the time when this little 
place became a Christian settlement, it was believed to be 
situate in 5° latitude, or two degrees forty minutes more to 
the south than 1 found it by direct observations made at 
San llafael, »uu at ia Boca del liio Apure. No idea was 
then conceived of the direction of a road that could lead by 
land to Nueva Valencia and Caracas, which were supposed 
to be at an immense distance. The merit of having first 
crossed tho Llanos, to go to Cabruta, from the Villa de 
San Juan Baptista del Pao belongs to a woman. Father 
Gili relates, that Dona Maria Bargas was so devoted to the 
Jesuits, that she attempted herself to discover the way to 
the missions. She was seen with astonishment to arrive at 
Cabruta from the north. She took up her abode near the 
lathers of St. Ignatius, and died in their settlements on the 
banks of the Orinoco. Since that period, the northern part 
of the Llanos has been considerably peopled ; and the road 
leading from the valleys of Aragua by Calabozo to San Fer- 
nando de Apure and Cabruta, is much frequented. The 
chief of the famous expedition of the boundaries made choice 
of the latter place in 1754, to establish dock-yards for build- 
ing the vessels necessary for conveying his troops intended for 
the Upper Orinoco. The little mountain, that rises north- 
east of Cabruta, can be discerned from afar in the steppes, 
and serves as a landmark for travellers. 
Me embarked in the morning at Caycara; and driving 
with the current of the Orinoco, we soon passed the mouth 
of the Bio Cuchivero, which according to ancient tradition is 
the country of the AiJceamlenanos, or women without hus- 
bands; and we there reached the paltry village of Alta Gracia, 
which is called a Spanish town. It was near this place, that 
* A cacique of Cabritu received Alonzo de Herrera at his dwelling, on 
the expedition undertaken hy Herrera for ascendinjj the Orinoco in 1535. 
