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providing the ornaments for the church, nor until, all the necessary information having been taken and the special points examined, it is seen whether the establishment be convenient or not, which the Fiscal considers a most delicate point. He is of opinion that His Majesty must be consulted, and most careful consideration given to the points raised in the journal of the official, Don Antonio Lopez de la Puente, and in the Report of the former missionary, Fray Thomas de Mataro, at present absent in the Kingdom of Spain. The Fiscal is aware that on account of the exposed situation of the lands between the mouths of the Orinoco and the forts of Old Guayana and their proximity to the Dutch Colonies, it has not been permitted that they should be settled, and for the same reason the Missions established are for the greater part situated in the lands of the River Caroni higher up than the said forts, and in the interior of the province.

The Fiscal has information that as the head-waters of the Cuyuni (which flows into the Essequibo) are close to the interior villages of the same Missions, the Royal Commissioner, Don Josef de Iturriaga, recommended that a fort should be built at the outlet of the River Curiamo to the Cuyuni, to hinder the said foreign Colonies from penetrating into that part, and by that route.

He likewise recognizes from the said journals and Report of Father Mataro the proximity of the Savannahs of Tumeremo to the said River Cuyuni, and to the before-mentioned outlet of the Curiamo, at a distance of six hours of road, from which the navigation to the Dutch farms is very short and easy. This is all the more dangerous on account of the attempts they are making to work the silver mines discovered at the town of Upata, distant very few leagues from the said Cuyuni, Curiamo, and River Yuruari, and the villages of Cura, San Antonio, and others. The means of communication and traffic with the Dutch Colony thus afforded to the Indians are very objectionable, and the before-mentioned official, Lopez de la Puente, learned that it is necessary to take the greatest precautions.

On this account, notwithstanding the earnest request of the said missionaries, it appears to the Fiscal that it is necessary that orders be given to the said Governor to the effect that he shall employ the most experienced officials acquainted with that province to explore carefully all the lands of the said site and Savannahs of Tumeremo, its communication with the Rivers Cuyuni and Curiamo, the outlet of the latter, and the facility of its navigation to the outlet of the Masuruny, where the first plantations of the Dutch are situated on the Rivers Aporgara and Cosacuro. The distances from these lands to the said Colonies, as well as to the town of Upata, should be set down, and the Governor should be warned of the importance of this business, and be instructed to give

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all information to this Superintendency, with as many particulars as can be acquired.

As to whether it would be well that on the said site of Tumeremo, at the junction of the Curiamo, a considerable village of Spaniards be formed, with magistrates and zealous officials of the Royal Treasury, who may be able to prevent smuggling in that part, and restrain the foreigners from penetrating there, the whole case must be laid before His Majesty with the necessary clearness, so that he may issue a Royal Resolution thereon with full knowledge of the facts. Your Excellency, in view of the "Expediente," will be pleased to resolve what is best. SARAVIA.

(Signed)

No. 452.

Letter from Governor Miguel Marmion, to Antonio de Valdes, Secretary of State, Dated September 22, 1789, Asking for Troops and the Founding of a Town on the Cuyuni at its Junction with the Curumo.

[Reprinted from Blue Book, No. 3, pp. 342-343.]

The proximity of the Dutch possessions of the Colony of Essequibo to that part of this province which borders on the Missions of the Capuchin Fathers of Catalonia has, since my entrance into this Government, compelled my most careful attention, as I knew the importance of the point, as I showed in my general topographical Report, and the others accompanying the despatch of the 10th June of the past year, [17]88, which I addressed to your Excellency.

Lately, to comply with the obligation by which I consider myself bound, I dispatched, for the exploration of these frontiers, the Adjutant Major of the force of this garrison, Don Antonio Lopez de la Puente, who discharged and fulfilled the Commission in the manner set forth in the inclosed journal, which I transmit to your Excellency, in copy, with the plan or map.

With this, and my previous information, I have recently set forth, as clearly as possible, the configuration of the country bounded by the seacoast and the Rivers Essequibo, Cuyuni, Caroni, and Orinoco, within which are situated the said Missions and their numerous cattle farms, the tobacco crops of the town of Upata-the only district of all this province where the revenue permits the cultivation of tobacco-the timber for building examined in [17]87, and the silver mines lately discovered, and which are actually being tested by practical miners sent here by the Captain General Intendent of Carácas to prove their value or worthlessness.

This portion of the country, the best, richest, and most populous of

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the province, is also exposed and without defence; the River Cuyuni affords the Dutch a free and open passage to our possessions, by which they can carry on their wicked traffic in the Indians whom they enslave, introduce merchandize, and carry away the produce of the Missions; nor can any one prevent them, for the river flows through desert country as far as the Missions. It is also impossible to stop the natives' communication with the Dutch, as there is no guard or settlement of Spaniards to restrain them. There are plenty of examples of this kind up to the last war, without mentioning the two recent cases referred to in the journal of the official commissioned to explore the country, which also serves as an asylum for bad characters, who, on account of their excesses and libertinage, have fled from the Missions; these men very frequently pass into that Colony, or its frontiers, carrying with them the population of whole villages, as practical experience has proved. Now, what is most remarkable in the affair is that the known advantages of this district as compared with the rest of the province excite the avarice of an active enemy, into whose hands Essequibo may fall, precisely as happened in the last war, especially as they know that, in its present state, it could easily be taken without any costly expedition, as there is no force to prevent it. Then the reduced escort of twentyfive or thirty men maintained here by Royal Order, and divided up among those Missions, is insufficient, and nearly useless in such a case.

The Indians, being an uncivilized and insubordinate people, lovers of their independence and liberty, which the enemy would undoubtedly offer so as to attract them to their side, it is to be feared that they would submit cheerfully to any change which would enable them to escape the subjection in which the Religious keep them for the purpose of instruction.

It is very doubtful whether assistance from the capital, to hold the port in case of a surprise, would arrive in time, on account of the long distance which intervenes; in case of the invasion of the province it would be still less likely to do so, for the force having to attend to the forts of Old Guayana, the principal and only defence of the entrance of the Orinoco, it could not be given without greatly weakening or abandoning the forts, as there are only three companies of infantry and one of artillery. These are always dispersed in the remote outposts of the Higher Orinoco and Rio Negro, of the Parime, of Barceloneta, of the River Caura, of the forts of Old Guayana, and in the above-mentioned escort of the Catalan Capuchin Fathers, at distances which render their assembling together impossible in any of the two cases explained happening. For the same reason, and the want of forces, the garrisons indicated in the project of Brigadier Don Augustin Crame must remain incomplete, and two or three years without relief, and when this can be given it is very expensive to the Royal Treasury in the mat

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ter of transport. This is the chief cause of the want of assistance and military discipline among the soldiers.

In consideration of these reasons and the others which the wise penetration of your Excellency will deduce from the papers before you which I had the honour to transmit to you on the 10th July, 1788, I take the liberty of proposing to your Excellency the urgent necessity of now adding promptly two companies of infantry to this garrison, and without any prejudice to whatever may be considered right in the future, and in regard to the artillery, putting it on a footing of 100 men. I also par. ticularly advise that a town should be founded as quickly as possible in the fork or junction of the River Curumo with the Cuyuni. A beginning may be made with the escort fixed by His Majesty in the Royal Order referred to of the 22d December, 1773, at thirty men; it would be well that they be married and militiamen, and at the same time, as they guard the Missions and attend to their duties under the command of an officer, they can also serve as settlers with the help which for this purpose the venerable community of the said Catalan Capuchin Fathers should freely give, with a part of the 10,000 to 12,000 head of cattle which they offered to His Majesty, and he accepted with the pious intention of distributing them among the poor people of this province, which Royal grace can never be enjoyed in a better nor more opportune time than on this occasion.

God preserve you, &c.

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Extract from Letter, dated June 4, 1790, from Governor Miguel Marmion to Antonio Valdes, regarding Spanish post at junction of Cuyuni and Curumo rivers.

[Reprinted from Ven. Span. Docs., No. 3, p. 260.]

Document 2.

MOST EXCELLENT SIR: Considering the urgent necessity of guarding in the best possible way, for the present, the avenue of the Cuyuni river, whereby the Dutch from Esquivo are accustomed to advance inland, I deemed it advisable to designate the Adjutant Major of this detail, Don Antonio Lopez de la Puente, as an expert party in those localities, entrusting him with this object and the command of the escort of the Missions of the Reverend Catalonian Capuchin Fathers. And at the same time I charged him to re-examine a site which should be the most advantageous on the said Cuyuni river at the fork or confluence it forms with the Curumo, to establish a fixed detachment or outpost.

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He performed this duty in the terms Y. E., will see by the copy which I send herewith, of which I have also made a report to the Captain General of Caracas, stating that I consider very necessary the sentry-box or stronghold that the military Commissioner proposes, in order that, in view of the antecedents, and until Your Excellency shall otherwise determine, you may examine and decide whether carrying this work into execution, the cost of which will amount, more or less, to five hundred pesos, is expedient for the best service of the King.

Letter, dated August 29, 1790, from Governor Miguel Marmion, to the Ministers of the Royal Treasury of Guayana, as to the post at the junction of the Cuyuni and Curumo rivers.

[Reprinted from Ven. Sp. Docs., Vol. 3, pp. 261–262.]

Document 3.

It befitting the best service of the King to protect the territory and Missions of that Province which borders on the Dutch Colony of Esquivo, I have resolved to have constructed a stronghold or sentry-box at a point which may seem most proper and adapted, which is to be selected by the Adjutant-Major Don Antonio Lopez de la Puento, the cost of which will amount to five hundred pesos, which amount, as well as the other materials and military stores the Governor of that Province may need, will be transmitted, Y. H. paying the cost per account of the Royal Treas

ury.

At present there ought to be at the orders of the Adjutant-Major Puente, eight militiamen to serve as escort and first settlers of the Spanish village to be founded there, and there shall be sent, successively, up to the number of thirty militiamen, who are to be at the same time settlers, as is provided by Royal Command of December twenty-second of seventeen hundred and sixty-three; the pay of which men Y. H. will provide without the slightest embarrassment, as I am authorized by the King to act in the matter as may seem best to me for his Royal service. God preserve Your Honor many years. Caracas, August twentyninth, seventeen ninety. To the Principal Ministers of the Royal Treasury of Guayana. It is a copy of its original. Guillelmi-[a flourish].