Beekman, on January 15, 1685, replied (V. C. II, 52):

"That you stop the Orinoco trade is a good thing; that business has always brought in much glory and little gain."

Notwithstanding this prohibition, it appears from the Journal of the Commandeur, from 1699 to 1701 (B. C.-C., 47-158), that the trade was then going on. In 1712, however, Commandeur Van der Heyden reported (V. C. II, 74) that the Orinoco authorities had all at once prohibited the traffic in balsam copaiba, which at that time was the article principally traded in, and that the new Governor had vessels cruising in the Orinoco to confiscate all Dutch vessels which might come thither. "But," he added, "at the present moment the traffic is again free."

In 1720 and the following years the trade with Orinoco had taken on considerable dimensions, especially the horse trade, and it appears to have been carried on, not as previously, by the Dutch at Orinoco, but by the Spaniards at Essequibo or Pomeroon. Late in 1726 the Court of Policy reported (V. C. II, 80) that the Commandeur, with the Secretary and others, had selected a site for a new post at Moruca, and that "they decided that the fittest place was where the horse-dealers from Orinocque generally moor their boats in the river of Marocco, it being possible to build a house there so close to the river side that a hand grenade can be thrown into the boat, the river being at its narrowest there."

Very shortly after, in March, 1727, the Court reported (V. C. II, 81) that some Dutchmen having gone to Orinoco, "the Spaniards took all their merchandise, and told them that they had orders from the Governor of Trinidad to stop the trade in that river."

In 1731 the Company wrote (V. C. II, 83):

"That it is far more advisable for the Company to foster the trade to Orinoco with the Spaniards than to favor this dealing with the English" (referring particularly to the trade in horses).

In 1733 the Commandeur stated (V. C. II, 85) that the need of horses having become great, "I shall by all available means try

to be helped by the Spaniards," although the Court had previously reported that the trade with the Spaniards "in Rio Orinoco cannot be relied upon " (V. C., II, 84).

All this points strongly to putting the trade as far as possible in Spanish hands.

The Commandeur, having occasion, in 1734, to complain, as he thought, of the Spanish Governor's action in reference to one Reiter, who had been sent to the Orinoco to bring back horses, and who had concluded to remain there, alleging that he was a Catholic, concluded that he would not do anything to interrupt intercourse with the Spaniards, because (V. C. II, 86)

"when one duly considers our situation here, how absolutely we depend upon the Spaniards for the horse trade, because the English bring them no more, this consideration alone would suffice for the maintenance of that intercourse."

In 1734 the Spanish Governor notified the Dutch Commandeur (V. C. II, 87) that "from now on the commerce was at an end,” while the Commandeur on his part issued an order that "no more passes to Orinoco will be issued by me, and that nobody whosoever will be allowed to set out without one on penalty of a heavy fine."

Nothing is done, however, to prevent the Spaniards coming to Moruka, with reference to whom the site for the post had been especially selected, and it is, therefore, not surprising to find the Commandeur stating, in November, 1734 (V. C. II, 87), that the "Orinoco trade is again under way."

The whole situation is explained by a letter of the West India Company to Commandeur Storm, May 30, 1748 (V. C. II, 101), in which they said:

"It gave us especial pleasure to learn through a subsequent letter from you, dated September 9, how, by the zeal you have shown, the trade of the Spaniards in the river of Essequibo begins to develop more and more, and we hope that all further means will be put in operation to make it altogether flourish there,"

It appears from this last extract that the trade with Orinoco had been practically transferred to the Essequibo side of the district; that the Spaniards were coming there with their wares, and that no further difficulty need be experienced as a result of the presence of Dutchmen in the Orinoco.

It also appears that this was peculiarly Storm's policy. This is confirmed by a letter of March 27, 1749 (V. C. II, 102), in which he said:

"There should sometime be some profit gained with the Spaniards, though the attempt is made as far as possible to pay attention thereto. But many Spaniards, come and go out of the river without coming under my observation;"

and he added:

"In order not to frighten away the Spaniards, I have until now remained quiet in consequence of pressure, and have only ordered the Postholder of Marocco always to advise me when any come, stating their names, and to whom addressed, so that I have always been informed thereof."

In 1753 the Company enjoined upon him to encourage the trade (V. C. II, 109).

So matters remained until 1761, when Storm reported (V. C. II, 120):

"I have always imagined that it was best for our inhabitants to send few or no boats to Orinoco, and so compel the Spaniards to come here with their merchandise; in this way our people would not be exposed to the least danger, and the arrangement began to work very well."

But he went on to say that the jealousy of the colonists towards the Spaniards, by reason of allowing the latter to come to Essequibo, was so great that he was "coerced into taking a course which I really believe to be disadvantageous, and into which I am forced because I do not want to have seven-eighths of the colony against me." For that reason, he had ordered that no more Spaniards be allowed to come up the Essequibo River. It does not appear,

however, that he prohibited them from coming to Moruca; and he mentioned the arrival of some of them at that place with a large quantity of tobacco.

To this the Company replied, in November of the same year (V. C., II, 146), suggesting that it would be "more profitable to the Company, to direct this trade into such channels that it must be carried on from Orinoco to Essequibo, by the Spaniards;" and the Court of Policy, in reply, March 18, 1762 (V. C,, II, 148), re ported that the trade carried on by Dutchmen in the Orinoco,

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consists of mere bagatelles, and is considered so risky and precarious that not more than two of our settlers (Persik and Struys) carry on trade with that Spanish river. Their boats are mostly manned by Spaniards, who are intrusted with the business both in cattle and tobacco;"

and they concluded that it was inexpedient for the Dutch colonists to take up the business.

The facts are correctly stated by the British Counter-Case (p. 80), which says:

"The facts are that though in 1760 the trade was practically open, the Dutch Director-General, in March 1761, reported that everything in Orinoco was in disorder, the Commandant having been summoned to Cumaná to answer several charges brought against him; that in the previous year he had, under pressure from the traders of the Dutch Colony, forbidden Spaniards to come to the Essequibo, but considered this measure to be injurious to the interests of the Company; and that, in his opinion, it was best to send few or no boats to the Orinoco, and to compel the Spaniards to come to the Essequibo.

"In November the Company supported the view of the Director-General, and the Court of Policy reported that the trade was a mere bagatelle and also risky and precarious, particularly as England and Spain were said again to be at war, and Orinoco would probably soon be ruined for many years to come. Consequently the trade was purposely suspended by the Dutch."

From this time on there are numerous indications of the prosecution of this trade by the Spaniards and its abandonment by the Dutch.

In 1763 the Secretary reported (V. C. II, 153) that:

"The uncertainty of how they would be treated by the Spanish is the reason why I have this year sent no boats belonging either to the Company or to myself out salting to the coast of Orinoque."

In the same year Storm reported (V. C. II, 154), speaking of the

post of Moruca, that:

"The road of the Spaniards hither leads past this Post, so that no one can go that road without the knowledge of the Postholder, who, therefore, if he wishes, can generally get to know what is going on in Orinoque."

In 1764 he reported (V. C. II, 155):

"Only last week two Spaniards came to me with formal passports from the Governor to come here."

In a memorandum of about the same date Storm (V. C. II, 157), referring to the post of Moruca and to its use in furthering commerce with the Spaniards, said:

"All who do not sail in very large ships having to pass the Post on their journey from Orinoque."

In the same memorandum he added:

"All the Spaniards who come here with mules, cattle, tobacco, hides, dried meat, &c., pass the Post, and stop there for a few days to refresh themselves and their animals. If he [the Postholder] kept a stock of the things that the Spaniards required, the latter would be very pleased to buy them there, and not be obliged to go further."

In accordance with the policy now fully established, Storm, in the instructions issued under date of October 7, 1767, to the Postholder at Moruca (B. C. III, 155) stated:

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"7. He shall demand from the Spaniards coming there with tobacco, &c., five per cent. import duty and forward the same."

From this time on not only is nothing more heard of Dutch traders dealing with Indians in Barima, but nothing is heard of them in connection with the Orinoco trade. As will presently be shown, the whole district was effectively occupied and patrolled during the remainder of the century; and as late as