3G2 
JUAX Q0XZALE9. 
had formed. We could rely upon the interest and aoh- 
citude of the governor of Cumana, Don Vicente Emparan, as 
well as on the recommendations of the Franciscan monks, 
who are in reality masters of the shores of the Orinoco. 
Fortunately for ns, one of those monks, Juan Gonzales, 
was at that time in Cumana. This young monk, who was only 
a lay-brother, was highly intelligent, and full of spirit and 
courage. He had the misfortune shortly after his arrival on 
the coast to displease his superiors, upon the election of a 
new director of the Missions of Piritu. which is a period of 
great agitation- in the convent of Hew Barcelona. The tri- 
umphant party exercised a general retaliation, from which the 
lay-brother could not escape. He was sent to Esmeralda, 
tne last Mission of the Upper Orinoco, famous for the vast 
quantity of noxious insects with which the air is continually 
filled. Fray Juan Gonzales was thoroughly acquainted with 
the forests which extend from the cataracts towards the 
sources of the Orinoco. Another revolution in the repub- 
lican government of the monks had some years before 
brought him to the coast, where he enjoyed (and most justlv) 
the esteem of his superiors. He confirmed us in our desire 
of examining the much-disputed bifurcation of the Orinoco. 
He gave us useful advice for the preservation of our health, 
in climates where he had himself suffered long from inter- 
mitting fevers. ¥e had the satisfaction of finding Frav 
J uan Gonzales at New Barcelona, on our return from the 
Eio Negro. Intending to go from the Havannah to Cadiz, 
ha obligingly offered to take charge of part of our herbals, 
and our insects of the Orinoco ; but these collections were 
unfortunately lost with himself at sea. This excellent young 
man, who was much attached to us, and whoso zeal and 
courage might have rendered him very serviceable to the 
missions of his order, perished in a storm on the coast of 
Africa, in 1801. 
The boat which conveyed us from Cumana to La Guayra, 
was one of those employed in trading between the coasts 
and the West India Islands. They are thirty feet long, and 
not more than three feet high at the gunwale ; thev have no 
decks, and their burthen is generally from two hundred to 
two hundred and fifty quintals. Although the sea is ex- 
tremely rough from Cape Codera to La Guayra, and although 
