SCENERY OF THE UPPER ORINOCO. 219 



lera of Parime, the aspect of which varied every 

 hour of the day. At sunrise, the dense vegetation 

 with which they are covered was tinged with a dark- 

 green inclining to brown, while broad and deep 

 shadows were projected over the neighbouring plain, 

 forming a strong contrast with the vivid light diffused 

 around. Towards noon the shadows disappeared, 

 and the whole group was veiled in an azure vapour, 

 which softened the outlines of the rocks, moderated 

 the effects of light, and gave the landscape an aspect 

 of calmness and repose. Landing at the mouth of 

 the Rio Vichada to examine the vegetation, they 

 found numberless small granitic rocks rising from 

 the plain, and presenting the appearance of prisms, 

 ruined columns, and towers. The forest was thin, 

 and at the confluence of the two rivers the rocks 

 and even the soil were covered with mosses and 

 lichens. M. Bonpland found several specimens of 

 Laurus cinnamomoides, a very aromatic species of 

 cinnamon, which, together with the American nut- 

 meg, the pimento, and Laurus pucheri, Humboldt re- 

 marks, would have become important objects of trade, 

 had not Europe, at the period when the New World 

 was discovered, been already accustomed to the 

 spices of India. The travellers rested at night on 

 the bank of the Orinoco, at the mouth of the Zama. 

 This river is one of those which are said to have black 

 water, as it appears of a dark-brown or greenish- 

 black ; and here they entered the system of rivers 

 to which the name of Aguas Negras is given. The 

 colour is supposed to be owing to a solution of ve- 

 getable matter, and the Indians attribute it to the 

 roots of sarsaparilla. 



At five in the morning of the 23d they continued 

 their voyage, and passed the mouth of the Rio Ma- 

 taveni. The banks were still skirted by forests, but 

 the mountains on the east retired farther back. The 

 traces left by the floods were not higher than eight 

 feet. At the place where they passed the night, 



