delivered to his care the packet of letters. This was addressed to
Laguna, some days' journey from the spot where Tristan was; but instead
of attending to this circumstance, he sent it five hundred leagues
beyond, to the other side of the Cordilleras, and himself remained in
the Portuguese missions, carrying on trade.

You will please to notice, that, besides different articles which I had
intrusted to him to dispose of for me, I had furnished him, in addition,
with more than sufficient to defray all expense in travelling through
the Spanish missions.

In spite, however, of his bad conduct, a vague rumour obtained
circulation through the province of Quito, and reached the ears of
Madame Godin, not only of letters addressed to her being on their way in
the custody of a Jesuit, but also, that, in the uppermost missions of
Portugal, a vessel equipped by his Most Faithful Majesty had arrived to
transport her to Cayenne. Her brother, a monk of the order of Augustins,
in conjunction with Father Terol, a provincial Dominican, exerted
themselves much to induce the Provincial of the Jesuits to obtain these
letters. The Jesuit who received them at length made his appearance, and
stated he had delivered them to another; this other being interrogated,
replied, he had committed them to a third; but, notwithstanding the most
diligent inquiry, the letters never were found. With respect to the
arrival of the vessel, opinions differed, some giving credit to, while
others disputed the fact. To venture on a voyage of such length without
any certainty, and preparatory thereto to arrange all family affairs,
and part with her furniture, was what Madame Godin could not, without
much risk and imprudence, resolve upon. She determined on the
commendable medium of despatching a faithful negro, who departed with
some Americans, but who, in consequence of obstacles, was obliged to
return. His mistress sent him forward a second time with new
instructions, and means of surmounting the difficulties which had
prevented his progress before. More fortunate on this second trip, the
negro reached Loreto, saw and communicated with Tristan, and, returning,
acquainted Madame Godin of the reality of the report, and that Tristan
was at Loreto. Upon this she determined on her journey, sold part of her
furniture, but left the rest, as well as her house at Riobamba, a garden
and estate at Guaslen, and another property of ours between Galte and
Maguazo, to her b