R. H. SCHOMBURGK. 51 



The influence of the tide was not felt beyond a 

 hundred and sixty-five miles from the sea, mea- 

 sured along the windings of the river ; it was but 

 trifling where the expedition encamped, near a set- 

 tlement of the Waceawa Indians. Further south, a 

 ledge of granitic rocks was observed, on which were 

 a number of Indian picture-writings resembling 

 those at Waraputa on the Essequibo ; but neither 

 so regular nor on so large a scale as those on the 

 river Cabalaba and the Corentyn. 



The river became now so much impeded by cata- 

 racts and rapids, that it took frequently two hours 

 to travel over a distance of only a hundred yards ; 

 and the combined crews had great difficulty in 

 drawing the corials over them. As they advanced, 

 the caymans or large alligators became very numer- 

 ous. The tenacity of life which these reptiles pos- 

 sess is extraordinary. One w^as fired at floating, 

 and the ball took ofi" the end of the snout ; it re- 

 ceived another immediately afterwards in the hinder 

 part of the skull, which appeared to have taken 

 effect ; still, the Indians were not sparing in their 

 blows and when there was not much hkelihood of 

 its possessing a spark of life, it was deposited in the 

 bow of one of the corials. AYhile the corial was 

 drawn across the rapids, two of the Arawaaks got 

 courage, and took it up in order to lay it in a more 

 convenient place ; they had just effected this, when 

 at one bound it jumped out into the river and dis- 

 appeared. The Indians looked quite stupified, and 



