Spanish America, Vol. II (of 2)

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Bonnycastle Richard Henry. Spanish America, Vol. II (of 2)

CAPTAIN-GENERALSHIP OF CARACCAS

BOUNDARIES AND EXTENT

POLITICAL DIVISIONS AND GOVERNMENT

DISCOVERY AND HISTORY

CAPITAL

DESCRIPTION OF THE FEATURES, &C. OF THE COUNTRY

PROVINCE OF NEW ANDALUSIA

NEW BARCELONA,

FEATURES, CLIMATE, &C

PROVINCES OF VENEZUELA AND CORO

THE PROVINCE OF MARACAYBO

PROVINCE OF VARINAS

PROVINCE OF GUIANA; OR, SPANISH GUIANA

ISLAND OF MARGARITA

VICEROYALTY OF PERU

BOUNDARIES AND EXTENT

POLITICAL AND TERRITORIAL DIVISIONS AND GOVERNMENT

HISTORY, DISCOVERY, &C

INTENDANCY OF TRUXILLO

THE INTENDANCY OF TARMA

INTENDANCY OF LIMA

INTENDANCY OF GUANCAVELICA

THE INTENDANCY OF GUAMANGA

INTENDANCY OF CUZCO

THE INTENDANCY OF AREQUIPA,

VICEROYALTY OF BUENOS AYRES, or LA PLATA

BOUNDARIES AND EXTENT

POLITICAL AND TERRITORIAL DIVISIONS, &c

FEATURES, CLIMATE, &c

COMMERCE AND RESOURCES

GOVERNMENT OF LOS CHARCAS, OR POTOSI

THE GOVERNMENT OF PARAGUAY

HISTORY, DISCOVERY, &c

GOVERNMENT OF TUCUMAN

THE GOVERNMENT OF CUYO OR CUJO

THE GOVERNMENT OF BUENOS AYRES,

CAPTAIN GENERALSHIP OF CHILI

EXTENT AND BOUNDARIES

POLITICAL AND TERRITORIAL DIVISIONS AND GOVERNMENT

DISCOVERY AND HISTORY

CLIMATE, FEATURES, &c

CONTINENTAL PROVINCES OF CHILI

PROVINCE OF COPIAPO,

PROVINCE OF COQUIMBO

PROVINCE OF QUILLOTA

THE PROVINCE OF ACONCAGUA

THE PROVINCE OF MELIPILLA

THE PROVINCE OF SANTIAGO

THE PROVINCE OF RANCAGUA

THE PROVINCE OF COLCHAGUA

PROVINCE OF MAULE

THE PROVINCE OF ITATA

THE PROVINCE OF CHILLAN

THE PROVINCE OF PUCHACAY

PROVINCE OF HUILQUILEMU

INSULAR CHILI

ARCHIPELAGO OF CHILOE,

ARAUCANIA, or INDIAN CHILI,

ISLANDS ON THE COASTS OF SPANISH SOUTH AMERICA

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATE OF COMPARATIVE ALTITUDES OF THE MOUNTAINS INSPANISH NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA

LIST OF WORKS ON, OR RELATING TO SPANISH AMERICA, QUOTED IN THIS PUBLICATION, OR WHICH CONTAIN THE MOST VALUABLE INFORMATIONCONCERNING THOSE COLONIES

TABLE OF THE LATITUDES AND LONGITUDES OFSOME OF THE PRINCIPAL PLACESIN SPANISH AMERICA, CORRECTED FROM THE LATEST INFORMATION,WITH THE NUMBER OF INHABITANTS IN THE CHIEF TOWNS

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Caraccas is a name taken from that of a tribe of Indians, and given to a country which includes New Andalusia, or Cumana, with Margarita, Barcelona, Venezuela, or Caraccas Proper, Maracaybo and Coro, on the coast of the Caribbean sea, Varinas and Spanish Guiana in the interior.

This office, under the title of captain-general of the Caraccas, has subsisted ever since, and with some few variations in the territorial divisions, and some abridgments of the authority of the person who fills it, it existed in the same form, until the year 1810. At this period, the mother country, subdued in part by the victorious arms of the French nation, had no time to attend to the situation of her transatlantic colonies. Engaged in destructive and terrible struggle herself, she little knew of the events which were taking place in the Americas, or if she did know them, was unable to assist those subjects devoted to her cause, or to quell the insurgent and ambitious. Taking advantage of the shackled state of the resources of Spain, the disaffected raised the standard of rebellion, and formed a junta suprema (a congress, or supreme council) in Caraccas. At first they published their acts in the name of Ferdinand the Seventh; but soon, however, on the arrival of Miranda with some troops, declared themselves independent of the mother country, and appointed Miranda to the chief command. Spain now placed their ports in a state of nominal blockade.

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The principal employment of the Indians of these towns is fishing and catching the aquatic birds which frequent the lake.

To the north-west of Lake Maracaybo, is a vein, or mine of mineral pitch, (used by mixing it with grease, to grave vessels,) which is of such an inflammable nature, that during the hot weather, and particularly at night, corruscations are seen arising from its surface, which have the appearance of quickly repeated lightnings. The Indians and Spaniards, who navigate the vessels and canoes of the lake, called them St. Antony's Lanthorns, or the Lanthorns of Maracaybo, as they serve them to steer by during the dark nights, so prevalent in the torrid zone.

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