56 MEMOIR OP 



tion of cocoa, and the flourishing condition of the 

 plants near Primoss may be cited as proof. 



On their return to the river Berbice, they found 

 it had fallen from eight to ten inches during the two 

 days they had been absent. This circumstance, 

 added to the shortness of their provisions, pre- 

 vented them from crossing to the river Corentyn. 

 They therefore pursued their return home, and in 

 the course of four or five days arrived at the upper- 

 most of that series of falls, which, on their ascent, 

 for want of an Indian name, they had called the 

 Christmas Cataracts. Great difficulty was experi- 

 enced in hauling the corials over these, so as to 

 preserve, not only life, but the property of the tra- 

 vellers, with the astronomical instruments and col- 

 lections. 



While they were encamped and occupied in trans- 

 porting their corials and effects over these dangerous 

 cataracts, in the course of conversation one day, 

 after a scanty meal, ]\Ir. Schomburgk was rather 

 surprised when his companion, Mr. Reiss, indulged 

 in a melancholy strain, saying, " He knew he should 

 die young." Next day the head man of the crew 

 reported that he had inspected the cataract, and 

 thought it impossible that the corial could be lowered 

 down by ropes, since the rocks did not afford footing 

 to the Indians. It was therefore resolved to shoot 

 the cataract, and the necessary arrangements were 

 immediately made for her descent. Information 

 being brought that the corial was just on the point 

 of starting, he proceeded to the foot of the cataract. 



