nd even dangerously so. M. de
Rebello, the captain, a knight of the order of Christ, was so
complaisant as to wait for me six weeks. Finding at length that I still
continued too ill to venture on the voyage, and fearful of abusing the
patience of this officer, I besought him to continue his route, and that
he would permit me to put some one on board, to whom I might intrust my
letters, and who might fill my place in taking care of my family on its
return. I cast my eyes on Tristan D'Oreasaval, a person whom I had long
known, and in whom I had confidence. The packet I intrusted to him
contained the orders of the Father-general of the Jesuits to the
Provincial of Quito, and the Superior of the missions of Maynas, for
furnishing the canoes and equipage necessary for the voyage of my
spouse. The instructions I gave to Tristan were simply to deliver those
letters to the Superior, resident at La Laguna, the capital of the
Spanish missions of Maynas, whom I entreated to forward my letters to
Riobamba, in order that my wife might receive information of the vessel
despatched by his Majesty of Portugal, at the recommendation of the King
of France, to bring her to Cayenne. Tristan was further directed to wait
an answer from Riobamba at Laguna. He sailed from Oyapoc on the 24th
January 1766, and arrived at Loreto, the first establishment belonging
to Spain on ascending the river, in the month of July or August of the
same year. Loreto is a mission established below that of Pevas, since
the period of your coming down the river in 1743; nay, both this and the
Portuguese mission of Savatinga, above that of St Pablo, which was
before their last settlement up the river, have been founded since my
passage descending in 1749. The better to comprehend what I now
describe, it may be well you should cast your eyes over the chart made
by you of the course of the Amazons, or that of the province of Quito,
inserted in your Historical Journal of the Voyage to the Equator. The
Portuguese officer, M. de Rebello, after landing Tristan at Loreto,
returned to Savatinga, in conformity to the orders he had received of
waiting there until Madame Godin should arrive; and Tristan, in lieu of
repairing to Laguna, the capital of the Spanish missions, and there
delivering his letters to the Superior, meeting with a missionary
Jesuit, called Father Yesquen, who was on his return to Quito, by an
unpardonable oversight, which had every appearance of a bad intent,