84 INDIANS ON A TKAMI'. 



as supports for tlie feet of men and beasts. Some of 

 these roots were twenty inclies thick, and they often 

 branched out from the trunks of the trees much above 

 the level of the soil. The Creoles had sufficient confi- 

 dence in the address and instinct of the mules, to remain 

 in their saddles during this long and dangerous descent. 

 Fearing fatigue less than they did, and being accustomed 

 to travel slowly for the purpose of gathering plants and 

 examining the nature of the rocks, Humboldt and Bon- 

 pland preferred going down on foot. 



The weather was cloudy. The sun at times illumined 

 the tops of the trees, and, though sheltered from its 

 rays, they felt an oppressive heat. Thunder rolled at a 

 distance; the clouds seemed suspended on the tops of 

 the lofty mountains of the Guacharo ; and the plaintive 

 howling of the monkeys denoted the proximity of a 

 storm. They stopped to observe these monkeys, which, 

 to the number of thirty or forty, crossed the road, pass- 

 ing in a file from one tree to another over the horizontal 

 and intersecting branches. While the travellers were 

 observing their movements they saw a troop of Indians 

 going towards the mountains of Caripe. They were 

 without clothing, as the natives of this country generally 

 are. The women, laden with rather heavy burdens, 

 closed the march. The men were all armed, and even 

 the youngest boys had bows and arrows. They moved 

 on in silence, with their eyes fixed on the ground. The 

 travellers endeavoured to learn from them whether they 

 were yet far from the Mission of Santa Cruz, where they 

 intended passing the night. They were overcome with 

 fatigue, and suffered from thirst. The heat increased as 

 the storm drew near, and they had not met with a single 



