New-York daily tribune., 1858-07-10
VENEZUELA.
Prom Oar Own Correspondent.

Ne tIt iVlD Ol IdeS icIt Ncss- Ota III .nO
bark Es.ber frances for tie City Of Bolivar. 1t
was my original Intention 10 have gone to La
Csayra, but the revolution baving broken our,
WA advised 70 delsy my journey, especially ga ny
1arsose was To view tee natural curlosi.ies a1o
visit the several mOpas,eIies Of Venezuela. and "
wat cons Jered that there would b. grsa; dlh;ulsy
in passing through the country. ihrouen tae
kindness of Mr. RswdOn Of the Onnoc0 Steam
Navigation COMPANY | was enabled 10 obtain pas
sape iu bis vessel bound for the OrinOcO aud thus
the dream of my early life was about 10 be realized.
We arrived here Oh the llth Of May, after diff
cult passage in which the xiii and care Of Capt.
Crocker saved us from being wrecked upon an un-
Known shore.
1t was my intention 70 have given YOU descrip-
tion ofthe City Of Bolivar, also Of the curOslties
and legends connected with the ruined monas,erles,
forts and towns upon the OriDoco River; but as
great political events have taken place within the
tast week, and steamer starts for Demerara 10
few days, j have thought proper to defer It until
ny next letter. viii simply state that, within the
hast ten years, Bolivar has greatly increased in
wealth and population, which is no doubt in great
degree TO be ascrbed to the enterprise which has
placed three excellent steamboats,, built by Mr..
Ibomes Of New-YoIk City, on the OrinOco River,
for the purpose Of carrying freight aud trading with
the different towns in the interior OF the country
=
connected with the enterprise have endeavored IN
every possible manner to facilitate my endeayOrs to
Obtain information regarding the country, aud with
out their aid should have been placed 10 TAR dI-
fereDt situation.
Those who travel in a South American country
during evolution are continually liable to receive
erroneous inlorInation or are unable to obtain any
as many dislike TO speak Of the affairs OF their c0un
try to strangers.
In every instance I have taken great pains to
Etate only such things as are undoubtedly facts, and
whenever il is impossible for me to decide which is
the true condition Of affairs, shall give the views
Of both parties Through the kindness of several
gentlemen in New-York City, have been enabled
TO place myself in direct communication with many
Of the leading men of the country, and, as this
present revolution has a direct bearing upon the
early history Of the country, and many of those
connected with it took active part in the war Of
the revolution against the Spaniards, l shall begin
by giving short account Of the early history Of
Bolivar.
The Spanards frst commenced settlement at
Guiana in 1850, but IN consequence of the depre
datioDs of the Indians it abandoned in I770 aud
they removed to the present site of the City Of
Bolivar, which was at that time called AugOstura.
Guiana s the largest province in Venezuela;
the OrnocO River rises ia il, and it consists of
absut az, 600 square miles. The of revol ltion
commenced in lolI, and from 1911 to 1921 the
country was desolated by what may be called n war
800 600 lives were sacriiced. The Spaniards were
in the habit OF taking the revolutionary cities at
night and decapltated the inhabitants without re.
spect to age or sex. The patriots, however, never
gaiDedAny ground until after the capture of Bolivar,
when, in consequence OF Its favorable SIT iaiion,
they soon had command of the whole country. The
forts of Guiana first taken, aud the Spsniards
on receiving report of their downf,l marched ont
of the southern end OF the City of Bolivar, with
about 5000 men, aud were met by Gen. Plar at
San Felix, near Porta Tablis, with upward Off GOO
Indians and eco other troops. The Spanards
formed Themselves in squares, and the Indians az
tschDg weights to their arrows shot them INTO the
air IN consequence of which they came down upon
the heads of the devoted Spaniards, WIN great
force killing over 5000 men, and completely rout-
ing them. Gen. Bolivar immediately marcned upon
the City of Bolivar, and after siege OF one year IL
was taken in ISI7 by surrounding IT by land ana
blockadiDg il by water which reduced the place to
famine.
Gen. Par. the hero OF San Felix, at that
time only 2s years OF age was considered the most
expert General and bravest man in the country,
equal if not superior, to Bolivar Bolivar, jealous
as some contend of his ascendency, felSned that
Piar was engaged in plot to entlce the lndians 10
murder the whites and take possession OF the coun-
try. He was summoned before a Court-Martia,
witnesses were obtained who testified 10 the
conspiracy, aud he Was sentenced To DC ShOt.
1t is impossible at this time 10 arrive at the true
state of the case but there are strong reasons TO
suppose that there vas a conspiracy, or at least
tendency toward one, and also that Gen. Plar was
TO certain extent connected with il. Gen. Sou
bette man of great integrity was at that time iis-
cal (prosecuting attorney, and ttere cannot be
much doubt but that Par had far trial.
Gen. Bolivar, deemiDg that the necessities OF The
case demanded an example. reluctantly caused the
sentence to be carried into execution.
During the early reign of the Spanlards the prov
mces of Guiana had been divided into about hity
Missions, built in a substantial manner of stone,
many of which of elegant deslg0. Each Mis-
sion was under the direction of flar, whose rule
was wise and benedcent, the object being the con-
version of the Indians to the Catholic religion from
the superstition and vile practices OF ldolatry and
the promoting of the arts of agriculture and clviza-
tiou Following in the footsteps OF their great leader
Las Casas the priests, with their Indian brethren,
hyed in contentment, war or blo0dshed belDg I'M
known among them. 1t was supposed the priests
were in the habit of working the mines which hsye
recently been discovered about l50 miles from Porta
Tabhs as they possessed immense wealth. and had
cole cted 3 900 ln dams under their government.
These are undoubtedly the same mines which at
tracted the notice of Sir Water Raleigh during hlsex-
pedon in l590to Porta Table, as the Indians when
giving him information, always pointed toward the
south The priests would not permit any of the Span
ish officials TO enter their territory, or in any manner
exeIcise any control, and Gen Bolivar, jealous OF
the authority of the frars large body Of
Indians directed them, Immediately after the ca
pitulaton of the city, TO appear before HIM and
give an account of their proceedings, and
charged General Garlic TO enforce his orders.
A large number were taken prisoners, Others es-
caped and some were murdered on the road.
Gen. Garlic decapltste0 over twenty ON the banks
Of TIE Caron, and the place is st0l held 10 great
ro.arstion hath by the Indians aud prlests of the