218 PASSAGE OF THE UPPER CATARACT. 



fruit is a powerful febrifuge, and is used as such in 

 preference to the astringent bark of the cinchona or 

 Bonplandia trifoliata. 



The longitude of this place was found to be 68 

 IT 9", the latitude 5 13' 57" ; differing from the best 

 maps then existing by half a degree of longitude and 

 as much of latitude. The thermometer during the 

 night indicated from 80 to 84, and in the day 86. 

 The water of the river was 81.7, and that of a 

 spring 82. 



Having spent some days at the mission of May- 

 pures, the travellers embarked at two in the after- 

 noon in the canoe procured at the turtle island, 

 which, although considerably damaged by the care- 

 lessness of the Indians, was judged sufficient for the 

 long voyage they had yet to perform. Above the 

 great cataracts they found themselves, as it were, in a 

 new world. Towards the east, in the extreme dis- 

 tance, rose the great chain of the Cimavami moun- 

 tains, one of the peaks of which, named Calida- 

 mini, reflects at sunset a reddrsh glare of light. 

 After encountering one more rapid they entered 

 upon smooth water, and passed the night on a rocky 

 island. 



On the 22d they set out at an early hour. The 

 morning was damp but delicious, and not a breath of 

 wind was felt ; a perpetual calm reigning to the 

 south of the cataracts, which Humboldt attributes 

 to the windings of the rivers, the shelter of moun- 

 tains, and the almost incessant rains. In the valley 

 of the Amazon, on the contrary, a strong breeze 

 rises every day at two in the afternoon, which, how- 

 ever, is felt only along the line of the current. It 

 always moves against the stream, and by means of 

 it a boat may go up the Amazon under sail a length 

 of 2590 miles. The great salubrity of this district 

 is probably owing to the gale. They passed the 

 mouths of several streams, and admired the gran- 

 deur of the cerros of Lipapo, a branch of the cordil- 



