Rev A Brandram No. 15
Angostura 27th October 1832
My Dear Friend,
I told you in my last that our God and Saviour, when he made and arranged the world, formed royal highways in this quarter for the use of all, and for the messengers of the Truth to move along in publishing the everlasting gospel. I mentioned to you besides, that your agent began to travel on these royal roads at the town of Camaguán, having at that time embarked on the River Portuguesa, and then move on to another river, and thus came to the town of San Fernando de Apure. – Having finished his business in the town just named he entered again on the waters of the Apure. His course in this case was the easy one – down the stream. But, (and there is a but in everything here below,) but, the wind was against him. With the current however in our favour, and with the aid of the oar, we made tolerable way along this beautiful river.
The first thing meriting notice in our course was our arrival at the town of Arichúna, this is a small place, and inhabited chiefly by Indians. I was going to say of these Indians, that they are in a civilized state, but this I think would be saying too much. I shall say therefore half civilized, and in using this expression I think I shall not do them any injustice. But judge of their state yourself by what follows: the men are entirely naked with the exception of a fig leaf. Many of the women are dressed in the same way, and some have clothes a little more ample, whilst all the younger children of both sexes are without any covering whatever. These people live almost entirely by the chase and by fishing. But the worst follows: they are altogether destitute of instruction. – They speak their native Indian tongue, but into that dialect the Gospel has not yet been rendered. My view in noticing this people to you now, is to apprise you of them before hand, that you may readily lend them your aid, as I am sure you will do, when on some future occasion you may be requested to put the Gospel of Christ within their reach by translating the New Testament into their native tongue. But at present things are not matured for this. – I may say also before I leave this subject, that there are many towns and tribes of people scattered over this country in the same state of half civilization as those inhabiting the town mentioned.
On the fifth day of our sailing down the river Apure we were brought by it into the waters of the majestic Orinoco. This is the third river I have mentioned and have sailed upon, and I cannot help particularising them as noble parts of the creation. The psalmist says, "Praise the Lord all his works in all places of his dominion," and I cannot help saying to these great rivers as I view them in succession, "O river, praise the Lord thy maker. Soon may the day come when the name of the Lord will be glorified on all your waters and on all your banks." Alas, this is far from being the case at present. But that prayer daily reiterated by thousands shall in due time be heard and answered, – "thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." For this we are now preparing according to the means at present within our reach. And may the Lord indeed give his blessing with our feeble efforts!
The first place we stopped out on the banks of the Orinoco was a town of Caycára. This is also an Indian town, or at least a considerable part of its population is Indian. I called on the priest, the curate of this town, and had a good deal of conversation with him. I could not help telling him freely and fully what I thought of the efforts of the Archbishop of Caracas against the Lord and against his anointed in prohibiting the circulation and reading of the word of God as far as in him lies. I was glad to find that this priest was not of the same mind with the Archbishop in this important point. But there are no Luthers in this country, no man who will stand out from what they know to be right. I fear the judgment of God will come upon many in this land for "holding the truth in unrighteousness."
In ten days after leaving San Fernando de Apure we arrived at this town. It is called Angostura, because here the river is narrow; and you may form some little idea of the greatness of this river when I tell you that even here it is three quarters of a mile broad. Its depth at this place is about 400 feet. – Here I have made my arrangements for the sale of the Scriptures with the apothecary of the town, for there is only one of that profession. I could not help reflecting afterwards on the suitableness of the place for the object. The word of God is a true medicine, and is the only thing deserving the name of panacea. O that the Lord would make the people here, and the...[1]
[1] The second part of this letter is missing from the archives. (BM)