180 



MOUNTAINS OF ENCARAMADA. 



Nile,* "that they swarm like worms in the shallow waters of 

 the riyer, and in the shelter of uninhabited islands." 



On the 6th of April, whilst continuing to ascend the 

 Orinoco, first southward and then to south-west, we perceived 

 the southern side of the Serrania, or chain of the mountains 

 of Encaramada. The part nearest the river is only one 

 hundred and forty or one hundred and sixty toises high ; 

 but from its abrupt declivities, its situation in the midst of 

 a savannah, and its rocky summits, cut into shapeless prisms, 

 the Serrania appears singularly elevated. Its greatest 

 breadth is only three leagues. According to information 

 given me by the Indians of the Pareka nation, it is con- 

 siderably wider toward the east. The summits of Encara- 

 mada form the northernmost link of a group of mountains 

 which border the right bank of the Orinoco, between the la- 

 titudes of 5 and 7 30' from the mouth of the Bio Zama to 

 that of the Cabullare. The different links into which this 

 group is divided are separated by little grassy plains. They 

 do not preserve a direction perfectly parallel to each other ; 

 for the most northern stretch from west to east, and the 

 most southern from north-west to south-east. This change 

 of direction sufficiently explains the increase of breadth 

 observed in the Cordillera of Parime towards the east, 

 between the sources of the Orinoco and of the Bio Paruspa. 

 On penetrating beyond the great cataracts of Atures and 

 of Maypures, we shall see seven principal links, those of 

 Encaramada or Sacuina, of Chaviripa, of Baraguan, of Cari- 

 chana, of Uniama, of Calitamini, and of Sipapo, successively 

 appear. This sketch may serve to give a general idea of 

 the geological configuration of the ground. We recognize 

 everywhere on the globe a tendency toward regular forms, 

 in those mountains that appear the most irregularly grouped. 

 Every link appears, in a transverse section, like a distinct 

 summit, to those who navigate the Orinoco ; but this divi- 

 sion is merely in appearance. The regularity in the direc- 

 tion and separation of the links seems to diminish in pro- 

 portion as we advance towards the east. The mountains of 

 Encaramada join those of Mato, which give birth to the 

 Bio Asiveru or Cuchivero; those of Chaviripe are pro- 

 longed by the granite chain of the Corosal, of Amoco, and 

 * Description de 1'Egypte, translated by De Secy. 



