Ch. V. SOUTH AMERICA. 375 



breadth. These are afterwards joined by the river 

 Tocantincs; the outlet of which is still broader than 

 the former, and at a still greater distance : the river 

 ofMuju, on the eastern side of which stands the city 

 of Gran Para, discharges its waters into the same 

 stream ; and it afcervvards receives the river Capi, 

 which washes the city of the same name. 



The river of Dos Bocas, after joining that of Ta- 

 gipuru, runs eastward, forming an arch as far as the 

 rivcF of Tocantincs, from v^^hich it continues N. E. 

 like the Maranon, leaving in the middle the island of 

 Joancs, which is nearly of a triangular figure, except 

 the south side about one hundred and fifty leagues 

 in length, and forms the arch of a circle. This island 

 divides the Maranon into the two mouths, by which 

 that river disembogues itself into the sea. The prin- 

 cipal of these two mouths from Cape Maguari in 

 this island, and the North Cape, is about forty'-five 

 leagues broad ; and that of the channel of Tagi- 

 puru, as likewise of the rivers which have joined it, 

 from the same Cape Maij;uari to Tigioca point, is 

 twelve leagues. 



This river, whichexceeds anyone mentioned either 

 in sacred or profane history, has three names ; and is 

 equally known by them all, each implying its stu- 

 pendous majesty, and importing its superiority to any 

 other in Euroj)e, Africa, or Asia. And this seems 

 to have been intended by the singularity of its having 

 three different names ; each of them enigmatically 

 comprehending those of the most famous in the other 

 three parts of the world ; the Danube in Europe, the 

 Ganges in Asia, and the Nile in Africa. 



The names which express the graftdeurof this river, 

 are the Maranon, the Amazons, and Orellana. But 

 it is not known with certainty that cither of them was 

 the original, before its discovery by the Spaniards, 

 given it by the Indians ; though very probably it was 

 not without many ; for as various nations inhabited 



B b 4 its 



