162 VIEWS OF NATURE. 



Like a Cyclopic monument of simple grandeur, this bold pro- 

 montory towers high above the tops of the surrounding palms, 

 cutting the deep azure of the sky with its strongly marked 

 outlines, and lifting, as it were, forest upon forest. 



On descending beyond Carichana, the traveller arrives at 

 a point where the river has opened itself a passage through 

 the narrow pass of Baraguan. Here we everywhere recog- 

 nise traces of chaotic devastation. To the north, towards 

 Uruana and Encaramada, rise granite rocks of grotesque 

 appearance, which, in singularly formed crags of dazzling 

 whiteness, gleam brightly from amidst the surrounding groves. 



At this point, near the mouth of the Apure, the stream 

 leaves the granitic chain, and flowing eastward, separates as- 

 far as the Atlantic, the impenetrable forests of Guiana from 

 the Savannahs, on whose far distant horizon the vault of 

 heaven seems to rest. Thus the Orinoco surrounds on the 

 south, west, and north, the high mountain chain of the Parime, 

 which occupies the vast space between the sources of the Jao 

 and of the Caura. No cliffs or rapids obstruct the course of 

 the river from Carichana to its mouth, excepting, indeed, the 

 "Hell's Mouth" (Boca del Inferno) near Muitaco, a whirlpool 

 occasioned by rocks, as at Atures and Maypures, which does 

 not, however, block up the whole breadth of the stream. In 

 this district, which is contiguous to the sea, the only dangers 

 encountered by the boatmen arise from the natural timber- 

 floats, against which canoes are often wrecked at night. 

 These floats consist of forest trees which have been uprooted 

 and torn away from the banks by the rising of the waters. 

 They are covered, like meadows, with blooming water-plants, 

 and remind us of the floating gardens of the Mexican lakes. 



After this brief glance at the course of the Orinoco and its 

 general features, I pass to the waterfalls of Maypures and 

 Atures. 



From the high mountain-group of Cunavami, between the 

 sources of the rivers Sipapo and Ventuari, a granite ridge pro- 



