JUNCTION WITH THE OBINOCO. 173 



here was only three or four toiaes. It loses, no doubt, a 

 part of its waters by the Rio A-richuna and the Cafio del 

 Manati, two branches of the Apure that flow into the 

 Fayara and the Guarico ; but its greatest loss appears to 

 be caused by nitrations on the beach, of which we have 

 before spoken. The velocity of the Apure near its mouth, 

 was only 3'2 feet per second ; so that I could easily have 

 calculated the whole quantity of the water if I had taken, 

 by a series of proximate soundings, the whole dimensions 

 of the tranverse section. 



"We touched several times on shoals before we entered 

 the Orinoco. The ground gained from the water is immense 

 towards the confluence of the two rivers. We were obliged 

 to be towed along by the bank. What a contrast between 

 this state of the river immediately before the entrance of 

 the rainy season, when all the effects of dryness of the air 

 and of evaporation have attained their maximum, and that 

 autumnal state when the Apure, like an arm of the sea, 

 covers the savannahs as far as the eye can reach! We 

 discerned towards the south the lonely hills of Coruato; 

 while to the east the granite rocks of Curiquima, the Sugar 

 Loaf of Caycara, and the mountains of the Tyrant* (Cerros 

 del Tirano) began to rise on the horizon. It was not without 

 emotion that we beheld for the first time, after long ex- 

 pectation, the waters of the Orinoco, at a point so distant 

 from the coast. 



palace of the Tuileries, and a little more than half the width of tb 

 Thames at Westminster Bridge. 



* This name alludes, no doubt, to the expedition of Antonio Sedeno. 

 The port of Caycara, opposite Cabruta, still bears the name ot th*t Con- 

 quistador. 



