374 A VOYAGE TO BookVL 



the natnrni differences of tine. But M. de ]a Con- 

 dainine uitb his usual accuracy, as may be seen in 

 the narrative of his own voyage, observed that the 

 flux and reflux perceived in the ocean, on any certain 

 day and hour, is different from that which is felt at 

 the same day and hour, iu the intermediate space be- 

 tween the mouth of the river and Pauxis, beine; ra- 

 ther the effect of the tides of the preceding days; 

 proportional to the distance of the place from the 

 river's mouth; for as the water of one tide cannot 

 flow two hundred leagues v>ithin the twelve hours, it 

 follows, that having produced its effect to a deier- 

 mined distance during the space of one day, nv.d re-- 

 pewing it in the following by the impulse oí the suc- 

 ceeding tides, it moves through that long space with 

 the usual alternation in the hours of fltiod and ebb; 

 and in several parts these hours coincide with those 

 pf the flux and reflux of the ocean. 



After flowing through such a vast extent of coun- 

 try, receiving the tribute of other rivers precipitated 

 from the Cordilleras, or gliding in a more gentle 

 course from remote ¡)rovinces; after forming many 

 circuit?', cataracts, and streights; tlividing itself inter 

 various branches, fcrmine* a multitude of islands of 

 diííerent magnitudes, the Maranon at length, from 

 the mouth of the river Xmgu, directs its course N. E. 

 and enlarging its channel in a prodigious manner, as 

 it were to facilitate its discharge into the ocean, forms 

 in this astonishing space several very large and fertile 

 islands; of which the c^hief is that of Joanes or Ma- 

 rayo, formed by a branch of the great river which se-. 

 parates from it twenty-five leagues below the mouth 

 of theXingu; and directing its course to the south- 

 ward, in a direction opposite- to that of the principal 

 stream, opens a comiT.unication between the Mara, 

 non and the river of Tjcs Bocas, which has before 

 received the v^aters of the Guanapu and Pacayas, and 

 flows intojt through a mouth of above two leagues in 



breadth. 



