No. 416. location of the large mouth of Orinoco, concealed by the sea for want of proper marks, and the occasion for painful and difficult tackings, on account of the strong current of those waters to the leeward that cannot be ascertained by navigators unacquainted with said mouth always, for fear of the low ground and perils of that coast outside the channel of the river. Finally, such a Post will make useless the one held by the Hollanders at Moruca, for the purpose of preventing the escape of the Poytos or slaves, by arresting those coming after them in their escape, who sometimes reach as far as the Orinoco, under the impression that we are forty-nine leagues away from the mouth, as it is the case at present. Memorandum on Condition of the Missions of the Catalonia Capuchin Fathers in Guiana in 1770 by Friar Bruno de Barcelona, Prefect of Missions; September 12, 1770. [Reprinted (with corrections) from Ven. Sp. Docs., Vol. 2, pp. 263-269.] State of the Missions of the Reverend Catalan Capuchin Fathers of the Province of Guayana, founded since the year seventeen hundred and twenty-four, with others of new foundation by the Commander General of this Province Don Manuel Centurion, shown by the actual Reverend Father Prefect Fr. Bruno de Barcelona, in compliance with the Cedule from the Buen Retiro in the year of seventeen hundred and one. To this end a visit was made in the present year of seventeen hundred and seventy. This state agrees with the matricula sent by the Most Reverand Fathers of the Mission of the Immaculate Conception from Caroni to their President, Father Manuel de Preixana and the Most Reverend Father Prefect. 1. The Indians of this Mission are Guayanos; they were transferred from the Mission of Suay (by order of the King), in which they had been founded in the year seventeen hundred and twenty-four. Baptized, 1,151; married by the Church, 301; deaths, 777; existing, 388. 2. Mission of our Father San Francisco de Alta-gracia; President, the Reverend Father Felix de Villanueva. The Indians of this Mission are Guayanos, and all baptized. They were founded in the year seventeen hundred and thirty-four. Baptized; 1,552; married by the Church, 306; deaths, 620; existing, 540. 3. Mission of Saint Joseph of Cupapuy; its President, the Reverend Father Joachin Maria de Martortorel. The Indians of this Mission are all baptized, and from the Guayanos tribes. It was founded in the year seventeen hundred and thirty-three. Baptized, 1,470; married by the Church, 366; deaths, 664; existing, 403. No. 417. 4. Mission of Santa Maria de los Angeles de Yucuari; its President, Father Raymundo de Olot; his companion, Fr. Carlos de Barcelona, who attends to the sick. The Indians of this Mission are nearly all baptized; a few are Guayanos, others Caribs, and others Panacayos. These Indians were transferred from the Missions of Amaruca, founded in the year seventeen hundred and thirty, on account of the bad climate. Baptized, 799; married by the Church, 363; deaths, 690; existing, 259. 5. Mission of the Divine Shepherdess of Yuruari; its President, Father Antonio de Martorell. The Indians of this Mission are all baptized, and of the Guayanos tribe. It was transferred from the site of the Yuruari, on account of better convenience for the cattle, in the year seventeen hundred and seventy. Baptized, 374; married by the Church, 92; deaths, 234; existing, 290. 6. Mission of Saint Joseph de Leonisa de Ayma; its President, Reverend Bernardino de Berdu. The Indians of this Mission are from the Guaicas tribe and from the Camaragotos; most of them are baptized. It was founded in seventeen hundred and fifty three, but in the year of seventeen hundred and sixtyseven they all took to the woods on account of the earthquakes, but afterwards most of them came out, and, with other arrivals, there are already three hundred and eighty-eight. Baptized, 599; married by the Church, 44; deaths, 198; existing, 388. 7. Mission of Our Lady of the Rosary of Guazipati; its President, the Reverend Father Benito de la Garriga. The Indians of this Mission are of the Carib tribe. It was founded in the year seventeen hundred and fifty seven; nearly all are baptized. Baptized, 316; married by the Church, 16; deaths, 104; existing, 370. 8. Mission of San Miguel del Carapo; its President, Father Thomas de Mataro. The Indians of this Mission are from the Carib tribe; most of them are baptized. It was founded in the year seventeen hundred and fifty-two. Baptized, 606; married by the Church, 30; deaths, 204; existing, 410. 9. Mission of Our lady of La Soledad del Cavallaju; its President, Father Geronimo de Vallfogona. The Indians of this Mission are from the Guaico tribe. It was founded in the year seventeen hundred and sixty-one. At the beginning of the year seventeen hundred and sixty-nine they took to the woods, on account the measles; about one hundred and twenty have been recovered since. Baptized, 208; married by the Church, 11; deaths, 70; existing, 120. 10. Mission of Our Lady of Monserrate del Miamo; its President, Father Buenaventura de Santa Coloma. The Indians of this Mission are from the Carib tribe. Most of them are baptized. It was founded in the year seventeen hundred and forty-eight. Baptized, 733; married by the Church, 60; deaths, 312; existing, 501. No. 417. 11. Mission of Saint Michael of Palmar; its President, Father Francisco de San Julian. The Indians of this Mission are Guayanos and Caribs. It was founded in the year seventeen hundred and forty-six. Baptized, 510; married by the Church, 108; deaths, 264; existing, 380. 12. Mission of San Antonio; its President, the Reverend Father Mariano de Savadell, accompanied by Father Domingo de Arbucies. The Indians of this Mission are from the Guayanos tribe, all baptized; they were founded in the year seventeen hundred and sixty-five. Baptized, 287; married by the Church, 64; deaths, 47; existing, 248. 13. Mission of Saint Raymond de Carauaci; its President, Father Pedro de Fugarola. The Indians of this Mission are Caribs and Cachigarotos. Founded in the year seventeen hundred and sixty-three. Baptized, 83; married by the Church, 1; deaths, 20; existing, 130. 14. Mission of Santa Eulalia de Murucuri; its President, Father Thomas de San Pedro. The Indians of this Mission are from the Carib tribe, and most of them are baptized. It was founded in the year seventeen hundred and fifty-four. Baptized, 403; married by the Church, 40; deaths, 220; existing, 368. 15. Mission of the Calvary; its President, Father Joseph Antonio de Cervera. The Indians of this Mission are from the tribes of Guaraunos and Salivas, most of them are baptized; they were founded in the year seventeen hundred and sixty-one. At present they have already two Missions, and the latter, by order of the King, is placed in the Cardonal. The Commander, General Don Manuel Centurion, in order to facilitate their translation, and in consideration of their poverty, supplied them, at his own expense, with many iron utensils and other alms for the purpose of planting new grounds, in seventeen hundred and sixty-eight. Baptized, 387; married by the Church, 15; deaths, 125; existing, 206. 16. Mission of Santa Ana; its President, Father Felix de Tarraga. The Indians of this Mission are from the Aruaca and Guarauno tribes, most of them are baptized and united from two Missions of San Joaquin and San Felix. They commenced their transfer by order of the King our Lord at the beginning of the present year, seventeen hundred and seventy. The Commander General, Don Manuel Centurion, in order to facilitate their transportation, made a present to both tribes of a large amount of iron utensils, axes, machetes, and other articles. Baptized, 639; married by the Church, 18; deaths, 250; existing, 446. 17. Mission of Our Lady of Los Dolores de Puedpa; its President, Father Mariano de Zervera. The Indians of this Mission are from the Aruacas and Chimas tribes; they were founded in the year seventeen hundred and forty-nine, most of them ran away the latter part of February of the present year of seventeen No. 417. hundred and seventy, some have been recovered, and in a short time will be entered. Before they ran away they numbered in all one hundred and seventy, brought from Moruca, where two Reverend Fathers went after them, well escorted and provided with vessels and the necessary stores, supplied by the Commander General, Don Manuel Centurion Baptized, 56; married by the Church, 0; deaths, 3; existing, 52. 18. Mission of Santa Rossa de Maruanta; its President, Father James de Puigcerda. The Indians of this Mission are from the Guaraunos tribe. It was founded by the above-mentioned Commander General, Don Manuel Centurion, with Guaraunos Indians, whom he personally went after, and brought along with him to the lower Orinoco, as may be seen in his letter asking the Reverend Father Prefect to send one of the Fathers to attend to the spiritual wants of said Indians, a fact well known to all the inhabitants of this city; a few of said Indians are baptized. It was founded in the year seventeen hundred and sixty-nine, and is in our charge. Baptized, 30; married by the Church, 0; deaths, 9; existing, 286. 19. Mission of the Immaculate Conception of Pana-pana; its President, the above-named Father Fr. James de Puigcerda. The Indians of this Mission are from the Carib tribe, and it was founded likewise by the same Commander General, Don Manuel Centurion, in the year seventeen hundred and sixty nine, as it appears by the letter addressed by his Honor to the Most Reverend Father Prefect, asking for a Missioner to attend the said Indians, and it is improving with new arrivals of Caribs with embarkations, troops, arms, and stores, and every other necessary thing at the expense of the Commander General and in company of the Reverend President. Baptized, 8; married by the Church, 0; deaths, 0; existing, 97. 20. Mission of Saint Felix de Topoquen, under Father Manuel de Preixana. The Indians of this Mission are from the Carib tribe, a few are baptized, it commenced under Father Manuel de Preisana in the year seventeen sixty-seven. Baptized, 56; married by the Church, 0; deaths, 5; existing, 110. 21. Mission of the Cumamu, under Father Buena Ventura de Santa Coloma. The Indians of this Mission are from the Carib tribe, a few are baptized; it was founded in the year seventeen seventy-seven. Baptized, 47; married by the Church, 0; deaths, 5; existing, 106. 22. Village of Upata and San Antonio-all Spaniards; its President, Father Pedro Martin de Ribas. This village was commenced to be founded at the expense of the Reverend Community, in the year seventeen hundred and sixty-two, with ten Spanish families. Baptized, 69; married by the Church, 23; deaths, 20; existing, 152. No. 417. - NOTE. About the latter part of last year the fortress of Hipoqui was commenced with six officers and an officer Cadet of the troop, by allowance of the Commander General, Don Manuel Centurion, with six swivelguns, balls, powder, and military armaments, said community paying for the provisions of beef and casave for the vessel. Two Reverend Fathers were sent to promote the success of said expedition, they planted the cross and began the Mission at the mouth of La Parana. Said Castle of Hipoqui remains as a constituted Spanish village by the pleasure of His Majesty, and the approval of the Commander General, with some expenses to the Reverend community. Said village is called Barceloneta. Now it consists of twelve Spanish families (with a few Indians) freely supplied with transportation and other expenses by the same Commander, showing his earnest desire to give ample population to these lands, and conquer souls for the Lord and vassals for our King. At the same time three other Missions have been commenced under the names of Guri, Aripuana, on the banks of the Caroni river, and on the straight road to Nre Barceloneta; and the third, called Garumopati, on the bank of the Parana river. The Reverend Missioners are no more nor less than twenty, besides the two above-mentioned in these places. We are daily awaiting the arrival from our Province of the eleven Fathers and a nurse that we have requested for the past few years, with the approval of the Commander General of this Province. Total--Baptized, 10,360; married, 1,754; deaths, 4,842; existing, 6,246. The Indians from the tribes, whose reduction we are still wanting, and that we discover every day, are as follows: Maceronis Caribs, Guaicas, Guapisanas, Paravaxanas, Arivas, Machuacanes, Tarumas, Gumaripas, Parauyanas, Tuyanas, Hipuragotos, Aturayas, Cumuxis, Papavenas, Camaragotos, Quiriquiripas, Hiñaus, Cucuipcotos, Arianas. In testimony whereof, I give the present letters signed by me and sealed with the grand seal of our office, countersigned by our Secretary, in this Mission of the Immaculate Conception of Caroni, on the twelfth day of September, in the year of seventeen hundred and seventy. No. 418. Extracts from Report of Manuel Centurion, Commandant in Guayana, dated April 20, 1771, as to the Province of Guayana, in answer to the second Command of the King of Spain. [Reprinted from Blue Book, No. 1, pp. 120-122.] In your Lordship's letter of the 18th September last you informed me of an Order of Council that I should communicate to them the result of |