R. H. SCHOMBURGK. 47 



under the care of the Postholder. The number of 

 individuals may be six hundred and fifty ; namely, 

 Arawaaks, three hundred ; Warraus, two hundred 

 and fifty ; and Caribs, one hundred. Like the gene- 

 rality of the Indians, they cultivate provisions and 

 live by hunting and fishing, ^vhile the chief part of 

 their time is spent in the hammock. It is only 

 lately they have commenced assisting woodcutters 

 to fell timber or to split staves, for which they 

 receive monthly wages or a stipulated sum. 



Three days' journey from the Post brought the 

 travellers to the second range of clay hills, called by 

 the natives Sipruta. The geological formation of 

 these hills had induced Mr. Schomburgk to suppose 

 that they might contain coal ; the beds are in 

 alternate layers, consisting of clay, shale, and sand ; 

 and there are portions of a bituminous substance 

 scattered upon the sand-banks. Should his conjec- 

 ture turn out to be correct, a most valuable disco- 

 very will have been secured to the colony. 



Continuing onward till arrived at the mouth of 

 the Cabalaba, he ascended that river as far as it was 

 navigable. Numerous shrubs of the wild amatto, 

 or pisucou, margined its banks, and the splendid 

 flowers of the Cassia cdlyantha towered over them. 

 Hills sixty feet high occur about twelve miles up, 

 and erratic blocks become frequent. 



A few days after, a remarkable rock was passed, 

 called by the Caribs TimehrL It >vas distinguished 

 not only from its size, but especially from a number 

 of gigantic figru-.-^s engraved on it, one of which 



