R. H. SCHOMBURGK. 71 



the more defenceless tribes whenever tliey find an 

 opportunity, and their poisoned arrows are always 

 ready. From the excessive fear of these savages 

 entertained by his Indian guides, Mr. Schomburgk 

 owed many obstacles to his further progress ; nor 

 does such fear appear to have been altogether un- 

 founded, if their relations are to be credited. 



The travellers now found it impossible to make 

 their way farther by water. They therefore directed 

 their course over mountains five or six hundred 

 feet high. Their last cassada-bread was gone, and 

 they had to subsist as they could on mountain-cab- 

 bage and wild fruits ; game was hardly to be found, 

 and even fish was scarce. Ere seven days had 

 elapsed, however, as they were entering the river 

 Merewari, they were gladdened by the sight of a 

 corial which they had expected with a fresh supply 

 of cassado, and the favourite drink of the Indians, 

 paiwarri ; no small treat to men in their situation. 

 Shortly after, too, they reached a settlement of the 

 Guinaus, from whom they received some trifling 

 assistance. 



More than two weeks of an arduous and toilsome 

 journey, conducted for the most part over steep and 

 rugged mountains, brought them once more into 

 the system of the Orinoco ; but it was only to put 

 an end to Mr. Schomburgk's anxious hope of reach- 

 ing the sources of that river. The outrages of the 

 Kirishanas had excited a general panic, which in- 

 fected his guides to such an extent, that they not 

 only peremptorily refused to go forward, but made 



