R. H. SCHOMBURGK. 39 



wife brought him the youngest cliild, a baby ; he 

 caressed it with the same fondness a civilized beinj; 

 would do. They show, too, more attention to their 

 wives than is commonly supposed. This is most 

 remarkable amongst the Caribs, who seem to regard 

 their women rather as companions than slaves. 

 They, indeed, must work liard ; the men clear tlie 

 ground, and the women cultivate and bring in the 

 crop ; but they are by no means the low slaves and 

 drudges they have been represented. Their greatest 

 failing, and that which unfortunately appears to 

 prevail amongst all the Indian tribes, is the neglect of 

 aged persons and the sick, who are too often stowed 

 away in a small comer of the house, neglected and 

 left to themselves. 



Accompanied by a numerous body of Wapisianas, 

 the expedition proceeded along the foot of the moun- 

 tain chain, following each other in what is called 

 " Indian file," that is, one abreast, through a path 

 of not more tlian six or eight inches wide. This, 

 however, is immaterial to the Indian ; his peculiar 

 method of walking, with the toes inward, enabling 

 him to go over the smallest path with comfort, 

 while another could not do it but with extreme in- 

 convenience. 



Having passed the Saeraerie mountains on the 

 river's western shore, crossed the savannahs, and 

 waded through several Ita swamps, they reached 

 the Cartatan or Corona, the largest fall of the Ru- 

 pununi. The river was very low ; the fall had lost 

 its grandeur, and was not to be compared with any 



