Oroonoqce :—(Thus written in the 2d edition of Robinson Crusoe) A rirer of the Nuevo Reyno de Granada, in S. America, one of the four largest rivers on the continent. It rises in the Sierras Nevadas to the N. of the lake Parime, in the province of Guayana, according to the discovery made by order of the court by Admiral Don Joseph IturIuaga, and by means of the information received from the Caribes Indians, proving erroneous the origin given to it by the father Joseph GuMii.i.a, the Jesuit, in his book entitled "Orinoco llluttrudo," as also the origin given it by the ex-jesuit Coleti, namely, in the province of Mocoa, in lat. 1° 21' N. The fact is, that, according to the more recent and best accounts, it should appear to rise in the Sierra Ibermoqueso, from a small lake called Ipava, which is, agreeably with the account ol our author, in the province of Guayana. This river runs more than 600 leagues, receiving in its extended course an exceeding number of other rivers, which swell it to an amazing size, and it proceeds to empty itself into the sea, opposite the island of Trinidad, bv seven different mouths, forming various isles, denominated the Orotomecas or Palotnas, so called from a barbarous nation of Indians of this name inhabiting them. The Orinoco bears the name of Iscante, until it passes through the country of the Tames Indians, where it receives, by the W. side, the rivers Panama.e and Plasencia, and acquires then the name of that district, which it changes at passing through the settlement of Snn Juan de Yeima into that of Guayare, and then to that of Barragan, just below where it is entered by the abundant stream of the Meta, and before it is joined by the Cazanare, of equal size. It receives on the N. side, the rivers Pau, Guaricu, Assure, Cahiari, Sinaruco, Guabiaris, lrricha, Sun Carlos, and others; and by the S. those of Benituari, Ainariguaca, Cuchivero, Caura, Aroi, Caroni, Acquiri, Piedras, Vermejo or Colorado, and others of less note; and being rendered thus formidable with all the above, it at last becomes the Orinoco. Its shores and islands are inhabited by many barbarous nations of Indians, some of whom have been reduced to the catholic faith by the Jesuits, who had founded some flourishing missions, until the year 1767; when, through their expulsion from the Spanish dominions, these Indians passed to the charge of the capuchin friars. The Orinoco is navigable for more than 200 leagues for vessels of any size, and for canoes and small craft from its mouth as far as Tunja or San Juan de los Llanos. It abounds exceedingly in all kinds offish; and on its shores, which are within the ecclesiastical government of the bishop of Puerto Rico, are forests covered with a great variety of trees and woods, and inhabited by strange animals and rare birds, the plants, fruits, and insects being the same as those on the shores of the Maranon. This last mentioned river communicates with the Orinoco bv the river Negro, although this was a problem much disputed until acknowledged by the discovery made by the father Ramubl Roman, the Jesuit, in 1743.
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