Lower Guiana is situated between the rivers Ori noco and Essequibo, and on the western side extends to the river Caroni. The greater part of this, like the upper province, is a waste, and not even much traversed by the Indian tribes, all of whom live in terror of the Carib*, who inhabit a range of moun tains on the south-eastern part, and are a strong, active, and warlike nation.
the tur The only settlements of European foundation are those on the banks of the 'Orinoco, where a few Spaniards have long been established, and exercise a portion of authority over the whole country. The mouths of the Orinoco give them the means of main taining some slight intercourse with the European world.
The capital of the Spanish settlements, recently called Angostura, but more properly St Thomas, is on the south side of the river Orinoco, and about a mile from its banks. An indentation of the river forms a natural basin, which reaches the city, and is a receptacle for the vessels that navigate the stream. It consists of one line of houses, large, and built of stone, which extends near a mile in length. The palace formerly belonging to the bishop, that of the governor, the goal, and a few private houses, are handsome ; the others, though large, are gloomy, filthy, and destitute of furniture. Though before the present troubles there were a few rich mer chants, it never was a flourishing place. A new ca thedral was erecting when the insurrection began. It is now suspended, and, in the six years that have elapsed, is nearly in ruins. The fortifications around the city are too extensive to be defended without a more numerous army than the country can subsist, and therefore those who were masters of the field and of the river took it with but little difficulty, • Old Guiana, another town on the same side of the river, but lower down, is a miserable place ; but has adjoining to it a citadel of great strength, on a hill, to which there is but one narrow pass, which is en filaded by the guns of the fort. This place is of
considerable importance, because it commands the river, and prevents any vessels ascending to Angos tura. The trade of this province was, even in tran quil times, but very insignificant. The produce that it was enabled to export consisted of hides, mules, tobacco, cured beef, and some small quantities of cotton and indigo. These were sent to Trinidad, and the European necessaries for the colony were furnished from the stores there, as long as that island continued in the possession of Spain. When it was ceded to Great Britain, the commerce was carried on with the Spanish port of St Domingo and with Cuba.
The navigation of the Orinoco is very bad. In the dry season, the water is too low to admit vessels of any burden ; and in the wet season, the various mouths of the river are difficult to be explored, from the whole delta being so completely covered as to afford no land-marks by which to ascertain the pro per channels.
The bands of insurgents under Bolivar, who were' conveyed to the Orinoco by Brion's fleet, found it a place of security after Old Guiana was occupied, and they were there enabled to recruit their armies by various volunteers from the disbanded troops of the European powers. The river, too, was a favour able course by which to receive military stores, which could not be intercepted by the large vessels of Spain, who were incompetent to watch its num , rous and distant entrances. In this secure asylum, the forces of Bolivar were recruited and organized; and, by ascending the rivers, and creasing a branch of the Cordilleras, they were enabled to reach the rear of the defences of the Spaniards, and, accord ing to accounts which appear to merit some degree of credit, to capture the city of Santa R. • (w. w.)