In the settlements which they established in dif ferent parts of South America, the Spaniards, it is well known, were actuated solely by the desire of pro curing the precious metals, and every other less valu able produce was regarded as unworthy of censidera time Under the influence of this spirit, the first adven turers in Terra Firma directed all their researches, as we have already observed, to the discovery of mines. These, however, proved so unproductive, that they were soon abandoned, and the colonists were, in this manner, compelled to have recourse for their subsist ence to the cultivation of the soil. But it does not ap pear that their early efforts were favoured by the su perintaeding care of the mother country. No Spanish vessel ever approached the desert shores of this new settled colony ; and it was only at the special re quest of the colonists, that one vessel from the mo ther essentry was annually freighted to this part of America, to supply than with the necessaries of Life. La this languishing state, the Caraccas con tinued during the whole of the 16th century. The faint hope of discovering mines, joined to the pro secution of the pearl fishery, which was at this time carried on with singular perseverance and cruelty, still continued to stifle every idea of agricultural in dotty ; and it was not till the year 1624, when the Dutch took possession of the island if Curacoa, that the inhabitants of Terra Firma were encouraged, by the vicinity of those industrious settlers, to devotetheis attention to agriculture, for the purpose of providing themselves with the means of commercial exchange, Cacao and hides constituted for a long period the two staple articles which they exchanged with the Hollanders for such other commodities as they were in want of.
The commencement of a trade with foreigners, however inconsiderable, excited the jealousy of the mother country, which, though it gave no seasonable aid to the early efforts of those colonists, was re. solved to claim the dominion over them, as soon as their industry could be made subservient to its pro fit. Two vessels were accordingly allowed to sail from Spain, freighted with merchandise for the cola vies, on which enormous duties were charged. The consequence was, that the Spanish merchants were undersold by the Dutch traders, and those foreign. ern were left during the remainder of the cen tury in quiet possession of the trade, which was car ried on both more openly and to a greater extent, During the first thirty years of the subsequent cen tury, the intercourse with Spain was revived; but the trade with the mother country bore no proper tion to the contraband trade. The annual produce of the province .amounted to 65,000 quintals* of cacao ; the legal exports were estimated et 21,000 quintals, so tkat 44,000 quintals still remain for the contraband trader. The Spanish Government, 6m Mg with increasing dislike the growing connection of its colony with foreigners, resolved to stop the intercourse by the violence of power; and, with this view, confiscations, fines, and the most degrading punishments, were inflicted on those who engaged in it. Numerous families were rained by these severi but the trade continued as before. It origi. sated in the necessities of the country, and such en couragements to evasion were held out, as covered all the risks of detection.
These.violent measures not being found to answer their intended purpose, several Biscayan merchants offered to the government, in 1728, to destroy the contraband commerce, on condition of being allow ed the privilege of supplying the wants of the cola ny, and of exporting its produce. To this proposal the government acceded, after bor. densome conditions on the company. however, Were complied with, and with such activity, pru dance, and economy, were the affairs of the company carried on, that they succeeded in supplanting the contraband trade, while their management gave My plete satisfaction to the colonies. From the year 1780 to 1748, 858,978 quintals of cacao were ship ped from the colonies to the mother country, which amounted to one-third more than had been exported for the last thirty years. In 1742, the company had acquired such credit with the government, that they applied for and obtained the monoply of the colonial trade. Great jealousies were excited in the coke Nies by this and to appease the universal discontent which prevailed, it was agreed, in 1750. that a board shock be appointed, composed of an equal number of members of the company, and of cultivators in the colony,—the crvemor-General to be President, who should regulate the prices at which the colony and the company sitould respec tively exchange their merchandise. It was, at the same time, permitted to those planters who were not satisfied with the established price, to send one-sixth part of their cacao to Spain, on their own account, and in the vessels of the company. Under this re gulated monopoly, the colonial trade was carried on with less of injustice to individuals than might have been expected, and with great prudence and-success. For the destruction of the contraband trade, the com pany maintained, at an annual expence of 200,000 dollars, an armament of ten vessels, which carried 86 guns and 518 men; besides, 102 men on shore. Superb warehouses were constructed in the different ports to which its vessels traded, for the accommodation of its agents ; and advances, with. out interest, were made to different planters to the amount of 640,000 dollars, on the security of the produce of their estates, at a fixed price. By the encouragement thus given to the trade of the colony, cultivation was extended,—flourishing villages arose in different parts,—and in addition to cacao, former, ly the only staple of the country, other species of colonial produce were now cultivated. About the year 1735, the whole cacao produced in the province was estimated at 65,000 quintals, while, in 176,3, there were embarked, During the same period the cattle multiplied ra pidly on the extensive plains* which stretch to the South df Caraccas, and hides were added to the other articles of exportation. By the increase of cultivation and trade, the various duties, which were hitherto insufficient to defray the expences of govern ment, became perfectly adequate to every charge ; and the government of the mother country was freed from the burden to which it had been subject for a period of 200 years, ef sending remittantee from Mexico, for the purpose of supporting the civil sae military establishments of Venezuela.