44 



MEMOIRS OF THE CARNEGIE MUSEUM 



Tumatumari owes its existence to a cataract in the Potaro River. The goods 

 brought up by the launch to the lower landing are transported by cart to the upper 

 landing, and this transport gives employment to nearly all the inhabitants. At 

 the time of our visit the stream was confined to the northern channel, the southern 

 channel being entirely dry. We made headquarters in the Sproston's rest-house, 

 from which point we had a view over the cataract. We collected on sand-bars 



Fig. 13. Looking across the Rapids of the Potaro River at Tumatumari. Papaya-trees in foreground. 



above and below the cataract, in the cataract itself, and in a little stream emptying 

 from the north just below the cataract. Our experience in fishing may again be 

 quoted from letters sent home. 



"We found a brook and went up it. I enjoyed the water, it was nice and cool. The water 

 we have to drink is in an iron tank out in the broiling sun and no ice is to be had nearer than forty- 

 seven miles. We fished upstream until we came to a deep pool. The nondescript helping us did 

 not know "how," and stepped on a spiny palm branch besides, so I got into the water to take his 

 place, and told him to take a big club and beat the water to drive the fishes down. He did this 

 slowly. Shideler and I then took up the lead line of the net, for the banks were so steep and full 

 of snags there was no place to haul the net ashore. We were walking down stream with the bag 

 of the net in the water to a place where we could land, when Shideler said, "I believe we have an 

 electric eel, for I have had two slight shocks." 



