Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-10-26
FROM THE oRoNoCo.
HowAHD


FROM THE ORONOCO.
The National Intelligencer Of the 3oth
of September, contains a letter from a
gentleman on board a vessel of the Uuited
States, which contains much useful and
interesting Information. The letter is
dated on board the United States schoon.
ler Nonsuch, at anchor off Angostura,
August 18th, 1919. The following is
summary.
The writer states, that after some little
difficulty, they found the mouth Of the
river lOronoco, which he says appears to
be but little known inthe United States,
and that all tie charts laid it down dill
ierently. Vessels drawing over l6 feet
of water cannot cross the bar at the
mouth of the Orouoco. A regular pilot
was brought 90 board the vessel By naked
Indians 10 canoes, whoEare represented to
be miserable looking wretches. The
banks Of the Oronoco for 200 miles up
are uninhabited, being subject to inunda-
ton, but thickly wooded with live oak,
mahogany, cocoa nut and thousand
other trees. From the depth Of the river,
they sometimes tied HE vessel to a tree.
and could jump ashore on dry land
Indians reside in the interior, harmless
and inoffensive, fond of rum and tobacco,
and completely 10 state of nature. The
women are not handsome, but possess
regular features and d pleasing counte-
nance. Some of the men have half a
dozen wives. Fartiler up the country it
is less woody, land rich and we'll adapted
10 Indian corn and tobacco. Neither the
hope Of gain or fear Of punishment can
nake Spaniard wsssk, The Indian
Village OF Sanchopan Oh the left back OF
the river is represented as handsome
town, laid off in streets, and regularly
built OF clay and palmetto leaves. After
passing this place the country begius to
be inhabited by Spaniards. The village
LOT Barancas, 80 miles above, contains
dozen houses, aud is the rendezvous for
the Patriot forces, consisting of four gun
boats OF one gun each and a crew Of SO
men. The commander Of the station,
Com. Padisez, boarded the Nonsuch liza
canoe padded by l8 men. He was
dressed in blue jacket, red vest and
pantaloons of the latest fashion, with two
epauletts. Guyana is 100 miles below
Angoslnra, contains rising 80 houses,
matched and painted red the principal
fort mounts 5 guns, built at the foot OF
the fill--on the summit there is castle
with four pieces. The writer is of opin-
ion, that If kept 10 repair and properly
manned, they would command the river
completely, but at present one hundred
men could take them. The next town is
st. Michael, contains 20 houses, about
mile from the shore. These are all the
towns between Angostura and the mouth
Of the river. On arriving at Angostura
the Nonsuch fred salute of l 8 guns, TO
which the town returned 81, and when
Commodore Perry and his suite paid
visit 10 the Vice President they were re-
ceived with great politeness. Angostura,
which is the capitol Of Venezuela, lies on
the left bank of the Oronoco, 100 leagues
from its mouth. II is situated on the side
of a hill, houses one story high, built of
bricks, tiled roofs, with wooden gratings
instead of windows. The population
10000, principally Creoles, with mix
ture Of Spaniards and Europeans. This
place formerly carried on a great COM
merce, but since held by the Patriots, has
been ruined. The people pay no taxes,
owing TO their poverty. The writer says
-" we found the Europeans who had
entered the service, universally disguised
with it; the officers had received only
$40 for years services" They are
poorly fed without medicine OF surgeons.
There are no schools in this country, and
no distinctions. A general is often found
gambling at the table with one Of his COM
mon soldiers. Many negroes hold com
missions in the army. Gen. Marino, the
second in command, lives opposite An
gostura. We found him, says the writer,
preiudiced against our country for not
assisting South America in her struggle
Tor independence. But we managed to
convince him Of the policy Of the United
states 10 remaining neutral. He gave a
ball IN the evening. The Spaniarls dance
nothing but values the ladies acquit
themselves with much grace. Few of