MEsmeralda is the most famous place on the Orinoco for the making of the active poison that is used in war, out hunting and, surprisingly, as a remedy against gastric illnesses. The poison of the Amazonian Tikuna, the upas-tieute of Java and the Guianan curare are the most poisonous substances known. Already by the sixteenth century Raleigh had heard the word urari spoken, signifying a vegetable substance used to poison arrows. However, nothing was known for sure in Europe about this poison.

The road from Río Blanco to Batabanò crossed uncultivated land, half covered in jungle, with wild indigo and cotton trees in the clearings. Several friends, including Seìor de Mendoza, captain of Valpraíso harbor, and brother of the famous astronomer who had lived so long in London, accompanied us to Portrero de Mopox. While herborizing we found a new palm tree with fan leaves (Corypha maritima).

The Pizarro's captain accompanied us to the provincial governor's residence to present Don Vicente Emparan with our passports granted by the First Secretary of State. He received us with that frankness and simplicity that have always characterized the Basques. Before he was appointed governor of Portobello and Cumana he distinguished himself as a captain in the Royal Navy. His name evokes one of the most notable and distressing episodes in the history of naval warfare. After the last break between Spain and England two of Governor Emparan's brothers, outside Cadiz, attacked each other's ships, thinking the other was the enemy. The battle was ferocious and both ships sunk at almost the same time. Only a few of the crew were saved, and the two brothers realized their mistake just before dying.