No. 431. 9. This province is bounded on the east by the Dutch Colony of Essequibo, and French Guayana. The proximity of the Dutch does not by any means give any ground for alarm. In no way whatever do they belie their peaceful system, nor manifest any ambition to extend their possessions in the interior. Nevertheless, their explorations have reached to Parime; and, on the other hand, the liberty we grant to their fugitive slaves make them chary about having us as neighbours. 12. Returning now to the principal mouth of the Orinoco, one navigates for 45 leagues up river without seeing anything more than deserts, which, on the north, extend for a great distance, marshy; and on the south inclosed by forests inhabited by a multitude of Indians, and the lands are admirable for all kinds of cultivation. At 45 leagues' distance from the Grand Mouth, the port of San Francisco de Assis is reached, and from there up the country is open, with immense savannahs on both sides of the river. 13. This fort is situated upon a hill on the south bank of the river, and at a distance of a quarter of a league from the place where Santo Thomé de la Guayana was, the capital of this province, and owing to its unhealthiness was transplanted to Angostura, &c. 16. Going up stream from San Francisco, the Island of Fajardo is reached, at a distance of 8 leagues; an excellent and dominant position, where there is a small battery with four small cannon, &c. 17. From Fajardo to Guayana there are 22 leagues; it is situated also on the south bank of the river, at a point formerly known by the name of "San Phelipe," close to the town, and this is an immense rocky hill, looking out on the Orinoco, &c. Letter from Julian de Arriaga, dated Sept. 22, 1779, transmitting to the Council Papers relating to Complaints of Dutch Minister. [Reprinted from Blue Book, No. 3, p. 315.] In consequence of what was set forth by the Council of the Indies, in a "Consulta" of the 27th October of the past year, in regard to reporting upon the complaints made by the Dutch Minister on account of the proceedings of the Spaniards of the Orinoco against the Colony of Essequibo, it is necessary that the documents referring thereto be examined, and it is requested they be sent to him; in this Department, under my charge, there have been found the documents mentioned in the inclosed index, from Nos. No. 432. 1 to 5, inclusive, and a despatch was sent to the Department of State requesting that, if those wanting exist there, and be found, they be sent to your Excellency. In this supposition, and the information included in Nos. 6 and 7 having been received, conformably to the Reports requested from the Commandant of Guayana and Governor of Cumaná, and the representation of the Prefect of the Missions of the Catalonian Capuchins, No. 8, having been added thereto, I herewith transmit to your Excellency, by command of the King, the said documents, as contained in the index, so that the Council, when they have considered the same, may report to His Majesty whatever may appear necessary and convenient, returning at the same time those marked from Nos. 1 to 5, and also the plan of the Province of Guayana, contained in No. 6. No. 433. Report of José Felipe de Inciarte, to José de Abalos, Governor-General of Venezuela, as to Surveying the Lower Orinoco, November 27, 1779. [Reprinted from Seijas, Ven. International Law, pp. 84-89.] In fulfilment of the commission you were pleased to entrust to me for the populating of the eastern part of the lower Orinoco, I reached the city of Santo Tomás de la Guayana on the 7th of May last, and having taken the measures of which I advised Your Excellency in my dispatches of 4th of June, 27th of July and 5th August last, I commenced the exploration of the country, leaving the aforesaid city on the 6th of the same month of August. Having reached the mouth of the branch (caño) Barima on the 13th of the same month at noon, I went on surveying the branch on both sides in a distance of thirty leagues, and found nothing but marshy and swampy lands covered with groves of mangle and timil, with talc, and trees called zapateros and puruas, excepting in the branch (caño) of Aruco. This branch, going up the aforesaid Barima in a distance of sixteen leagues, has its mouth on the right bank, and entering it to a distance of one league, one finds that all the lands lying on its right side are composed of handsome hills and meadows with several rivulets of spring water, proper for all kinds of agriculture in a distance of seven leagues, where the branch (caño) of Garuabo is reached. Entering the aforesaid branch of Aruco, one meets at a distance of one league, the first hill, which was inhabited a few years ago by a Dutchman from Essequibo called Mener Nelch and by several indians of the Caribbean tribe. At the foot of this hill, in a small creek, I found the hulls of a large pirogue and of a boat, which an indian assured me had belonged to the aforesaid Dutchman. On the hill we found por No. 433. tions of coffee, anonce and orange trees: I omit further details having entered them in a diary which I have commenced and to which I refer. Having left the branch Aruco and descended the Barima, I entered the one called Mura. This one, going up the Barima in a distance of fifteen leagues, has its mouth on the left shore, its length being three leagues, with many turns as far as the branch (caño) Guaina, and all the lands on both sides of it are marshy and swampy, covered with various kinds of trees, the majority being mangles. Having reached the aforesaid branch Guaina, I went on surveying the lands on both sides of it in a distance of twenty five leagues, finding nothing but marshes, excepting at a distance of nineteen leagues up this branch, where on the left side, within pistol shot, and in front of the branch (caño) called Barama, I saw a hill somewhat high, and full of stones, to all appearance minerals, of which I send several pieces to Your Excellency. From this hill towards the south west others are to be found which go as far as those which commence at branch (caño) Azacate, details of which I omit they being entered in the diary above mentioned. Having descended the aforesaid branch Guaina, I entered the one called Paramaná. This branch, going up the said Guaina, a distance of sixteen leagues has its mouth on the left shore; having surveyed it, together with those called Viara, Azacate (this one has profitable lands which join the hills of Guaina, details of which are entered the dairy) Itabo and the one that runs through the sabana (plain) which leads to the post held by the Dutch at Moruca, I found nothing but marshes, as is mentioned with full particulars in the diary. The distance from the commencement of the aforesaid branch Paramana, to the end of the aforesaid sabana is of about twelve leagues. Immediately upon leaving this sabana one enters the rivulet of Moruca to the right side of which commence the lands called Cumaco which crossing at the back of the aforesaid Dutch post, reach as far as branch (caño) Moracabura. Said post is situated at a distance of two leagues from the commencement of the Cumaco lands to the South West Quarter South, and from the aforesaid post to said branch Moracabura where the Cumaco lands end, the distance is from two and a half to three leagues towards the North east quarter east. These lands are all flat, without any hills (but in certain parts they are high, so that they can command the surroundings) good for all kinds of agriculture, full of trees proper for making boards and poles, with good creeks of spring water, but not one stone was to be found in all its surroundings. The aforesaid rivulet of Moruca follows its course towards the sea and passes with pistol-shot to the north of the aforesaid lands. At a quarter of a league before reaching the aforesaid Dutch port, the rivulet forms a small bay so that any barge can lie there alongside of the lands and this bay could serve as a port, as the vessels which may lie in it will No. 433. not be in the way of those wishing to pass the river, the width of which is from ten to twelve fathoms and the depth of from nine to twelve palms, the bottom being white sand. It would be convenient in my opinion to found a town close to this bay or port, as besides the advantages offered by the produce of the land, the communication which the Dutch have with the Orinoco by means of the inside branches could be prevented; there being no other pass, they would be compelled to enter through the North of the Guaina into the sea; and although it would be easy for them to go to the Orinoco through the Guiana, as they would sail before the wind, the return to Essequibo in barges and pirogues (which are generally used for unlawful trade with the Orinoco) would be very difficult and almost impossible when there is any breeze, especially from the North east, as, on account of the shallowness on that coast, a very choppy surf rises, which besides preventing them from advancing by means of oars, would expose them (these vessels not being covered) to lose their cargo, if this consists of tobacco, on account of the water which necessarily and continually enters the vessel, and if the cargo consists of mules or cattle, on account of having to reach the Orinoco as quickly as possible, for, although they can get plenty of water from the Guaina, they cannot get grass, there being no plains in those regions. The passage of the river Moruca could easily be prevented by erecting a fort with four or six guns in the aforesaid small bay; as no other vessels but flat boats can enter this river, and they are forcibly compelled to navigate by oar, they cannot present themselves before a four pound gun without the unavoidable risk of being sunk at the first or the second shot, which will necessarily happen, as, before the vessel discovers the fort (in case she should wish to force her way) the latter will perceive her prow at a distance of pistol-shot. As for protecting the town against the attacks of the Dutch or any other enemy, this can be obtained by erecting a fort on one of the small heights formed by the ground, for although this is almost all flat, there are still some points higher than others that can command the surroundings, without at the same time the spot where the town would lie being commanded, and although the fort be not very strong it would be impossible to force it, firstly, because the Dutch could not arm large numbers of people at Essequibo, even if they wished to do so, and, secondly, on account of the difficulties they would meet with for the transportation of their cannons as at each step they would fall upon marshy lands which would prevent them from advancing. The want of stones in those regions for the construction of the forts, is easy to remedy, as these can be made of wood, there being an abundance of trees the core of which is sufficiently hard for any purpose for which they may be applied. Communication with the Capital of the Orinoco can be held throughout the year, through the branches, and without going out into the sea, No. 433. by means of pirogues, and, during a great part of the year, even with barges. The aforesaid Post held by the Dutch on the Moruca advances from Essequibo towards the Orinoco in a distance of about eighteen leagues, in an almost Northwesterly Southeasterly direction the one from the other, and although it is at present but an insignificant house with only two dismounted guns and a few swivel-guns, as it could however receive assistance from Essequibo within less than twenty four hours, it would be very convenient, for the safety safety of the new towns that may be founded, to dislodge the Dutch from the aforesaid port, from which the distance to the sea and through the aforesaid Moruca, is of about five leagues. Going up this river towards the sea one finds within two pistol-shots the mouth of Branch (caño) Bauruma, which lies to the South-west quarter-south in a distance of three quarters of a league; having reached this branch and sailed on it a distance of about one league, I discovered Branch Guacapou, where, having surveyed it, I discovered some beautiful lands, suitable for all kinds of work, and two farms of aruaca indians, all of which is mentioned with full particulars in my diary. The distance from the aforesaid branch Guacapou to the Tapacuma, sailing through the Bauruma, is of about eight leagues, and the greater part of the lands on the left shore are swampy. From the Tapacuma, following the Bauruma as far as Branch Visorun, the distance is of about five and one half leagues, and all the lands on both shores, which are mostly flat and covered with trees, are suitable for all kinds of cultivation. Within the five and one half leagues there are two hills, of which the first, going upwards, is on the right side, is not very large and is at a distance of about two and one half leagues from the Tapacuma. It lies on the bank of the branch, and, if fortified, can command the neighbouring lands and defend the entrance to said branch. The second hill which is on the left going up the Bauruma, is at about one and one half leagues from this branch; this hill is high and rugged (a few years ago it was inhabited by Caribean indians); there is sufficient room on its summit for a medium sized town after having properly fortified it, for which reason it seems to me that the first town which it is intended to found under the name of San Carlos de la Frontera should lie on this spot, as being distant from Essequibo by land only twelve or thirteen leagues, it commands, on account of its advantageous position, not only the surrounding lands but also the aforesaid branch Bauruma. Although having water enough to carry frigates, this branch, at the mouth where it empties into the sea, has only enough to carry sloops; and should the Dutch or other enemies attempt anything by water with this kind of vessels, besides having to use oars in going up this branch, on account of the contrary winds, they would have to wait for the tide to rise in order to be able to navigate, for which reason it would be impossible for them to take the inhabitants by |