MAPIRE 99 



did this thing and took a note of it, and calculate how 

 many cows you would have to pay for if you were at all 

 particular about not going to gaol. 



When there is a revolution the wood-cutters find it 

 unprofitable to continue business, so they take a rest or go 

 on the warpath in the expectation of taking something 

 better — it may be a cow or a mule. 



Mapire is situated on a bluff commanding a good view 

 of the Orinoco. The country around is open grass-land 

 where a good many cattle are reared, yet the place has 

 the same poverty-stricken appearance which, as I have 

 said before, is characteristic of the towns of the Orinoco. 

 A steamer and three barges were moored to the bank 

 shipping hides when we arrived, and they were still there 

 when we left, for our stay had not been long. By five 

 o'clock the passengers were landed and we had taken in 

 as much wood as it was possible to carry on the deck 

 aroimd the boiler. We then steered for the mouth of the 

 Caura, which is some distance up the river obliquely 

 opposite to Mapire. 



H 2 



