R. H. SCHJMBURGK. 43 



can), embarked again in their corials, and pro- 

 ceeded on the descent of the Rupununi to its junc- 

 tion with the Essequibo, 



Determined, however, to trace, if possible, the 

 latter river as far as the advanced season permitted 

 it, Mr. Schomburgk and his companions turned 

 sharply round in order to ascend it. They pursued 

 an almost easterly course for eight miles, and ob- 

 served a river flowing in from the south-west, the 

 largest tributary of the Essequibo since they had 

 left the Rupununi. The Indians were utterly un- 

 acquainted with its existence or its name. Our 

 traveller, therefore, called it Smyth's River, in ho- 

 nour of Sir James Carmichael Smyth, the then 

 governor of British Guiana. The banks had still 

 the same luxuriant appearance as on the lower 

 Essequibo ; while numerous monkeys jumping from 

 branch to branch, — the female, and sometimes the 

 male, carrying the young ones upon the back, — 

 contributed much to enliven the scene. Rapids 

 subsequently became frequent ; and at length ap- 

 peared the great cataract, which the Indians agreed 

 in declaring no white man had ever before reached. 

 Numerous conical hills of granitic structure, covered 

 with verdure, narrowed the river to within fifty 

 yards, where the whole body of water dashed down 

 a precipice of fourteen feet, then foamed over a 

 rugged bed of rocks for about twenty yards, and 

 again precipitated itself to a depth of ten feet into 

 the basin below ; forming a picturesque and noble 

 scene. This was christened, with all the established 



