bo MEMOIR OF 



covered by red lichen ; while on its summit ajahiru 

 or stork had built its nest, and above this was seen 

 the head of a young one. On the approach of the 

 travellers, its mother hastened from a neighbouring 

 savannah to its protection, and, perched on one leg 

 on the summit of the rock, stood sentinel over the 

 plain around. * 



Ten days' journey hence brought the expedition 

 to a settlement of the Arecunas. These are of 

 fairer complexion than the Macusis, and of the 

 same make ; indeed, they are but a brother tribe. 

 Next day they crossed the Yawaira flowing north- 

 wards, and a tributary to the Caroni ; and entered 

 therefore the basin of the Orinoco, which is divided 

 from that of the Amazons by a ridge of sand-stone 

 mountains. At an abandoned settlement, a view 

 was obtained of those remarkable mountains, of 

 which Roraima is the highest. They were wrapped 

 in dark clouds, and distant about forty miles north- 

 north-east. 



Following the foot of a range of sand-stone hills, 

 and crossing several ridges, &c. where they experi- 

 enced intense cold, the party at length came upon 

 Roraima, and saw it in all its grandeur, from an 

 elevation of three thousand seven hundred feet above 

 the Arekuna village of Arawayam ; its steep sides 

 rise to a height of fifteen hundred feet, the summit 

 is therefore five thousand two hundred feet above 

 Arawayam. The sides, of compact sand-stone, are 

 as perpendicular as if erected with the plumb-line, 

 * See Views in Brit. Guiana, by R. H. Schomburgk. 



