EIGENMANN: THE FRESHWATER FISHES OF BRITISH GUIANA 



49 



so early in the morning. We camped shortly afterwards at Tukeit, called " Tukui," 

 or humming-bird, by the Indians, after the waterfall coming from the plateau 

 opposite the camp. Our hunters killed four peccaries across the river, and young 

 wild pork was a pleasant change from the canned meats. At Tukeit there is 

 another cataract in the Potaro, and above it several more towards the foot of the 

 fall. It is one of my regrets that time did not permit me to walk up to the Kaieteur. 

 We collected in the Potaro at Tukeit and the following morning at eight 

 started to ascend the plateau. The path leads back from the river for a time, 

 crosses Shrimp Creek, and then ascends very steeply to the top of the plateau. 

 Here it is comparatively level again and runs through the woods to the edge of 

 the sav. nnah, or treeless tract, immediately about the fall. 



Fig. 17. View on the Potaro River looking up stream at the point where the first glimpse of the Kaieteur 



Falls is caught. 



After breakfast, at the edge of the savannah, Mr. Shideler and I, with William 

 and another Indian, walked to the edge of the precipice and to the fall, while the 

 rest of the Indians went on to pitch the camp and get the boats of the upper Potaro 

 ready. 



The scenery about the fall is unique. Looking down the stream one sees 



