64 MEMOIR OP 



fluence with the Rio Branca, Parima, or Urariqiiera. 

 It was built to prevent the incursions of the Spa- 

 niards and the Dutch, has fourteen embrasures, 

 mounted with eight nine-pounders in tolerable con- 

 dition, and is garrisoned with a commandant and 

 ten privates of the provincial militia. A small 

 chapel and five houses constitute the village ; and a 

 priest visits the fortress every two or three years, to 

 administer to the spiritual wants of the inhabitants. 

 The cattle-farms in the vicinity are under an admi- 

 nistrator, who receives one-fourth of all the cattle 

 which he brands with the government stamp. The 

 number of cattle was stated to consist of three 

 thousand head penned, and five thousand head wild, 

 with five hundred horses. 



The dreary time of the tropical winter was spent 

 in Sao Joaquim, arranging the notes of the former 

 expedition, constructing a map of the Upper Esse- 

 quibo, and making astronomical observations when- 

 ever the changeable weather afforded an opportunity. 

 Vague accounts of the Sierra Grande, or Caruma of 

 the Indians, about thirty- one geographical miles 

 below Fort Sao Joaquim, had long ago awakened 

 in the mind of Mr. Schomburgk a desire to visit it. 

 He had been told, too, of a large lake with black 

 water, in which dolphins were as common as in the 

 Rio Branco, and Avhich wanted only large ships 

 sailing on its surface to make it another Lake Pa- 

 rima. Thither, therefore, he planned an excursion 

 with Senhor Ayres, of the Fort ; and three days' 

 journey brought tliem to the foot of the mountain 



