CABICIIANA. 491 



cataracts. The little monkeys which we had carried along 

 with us for months, were deposited on the point of our 

 island. Wet by the rains, and sensible of the least lowering 

 of the temperature, these delicate animals sent forth 

 plaintive cries, and attracted to the spot two crocodiles, the 

 size and leaden colour of which denoted their great age. 

 Their unexpected appearance made us reflect on the danger 

 we had incurred by bathing, at our first passing by the 

 mission of Atures, in the middle of the Raudal. After long 

 waiting, the Indians at length arrived at the close of day. 

 The natural coffer-dam, by which they had endeavoured to 

 descend, in order to make the circuit of the island, had 

 become impassable, owing to the shallowness of the water. 

 The pilot sought long for a more accessible passage in this 

 labyrinth of rocks and islands. Happily our canoe was not 

 damaged, and in less than half an hour our instruments, 

 provision, and animals, were embarked. 



We pursued our course during a part of the night, to 

 pitch our tent again in the island of Panumana. We recog- 

 nized with pleasure the spots where we had botanized when 

 going up the Orinoco. We examined once more on the 

 beach of Guachaco that small formation of sandstone, which 

 reposes directly on granite. Its position is the same as that 

 of the sandstone which Burckhardt observed at the entrance 

 of Nubia, superimposed on the granite of Syene. We passed, 

 without visiting it, the new mission of San Borga, where (as 

 we learned with regret a few days after) the little colony of 

 Guahibos had fled al monte, from the chimerical fear that we 

 should carry them off, to sell them as poitos, or slaves. 

 After having passed the rapids of Tabaje, and the Raudal of 

 Cariven, near the mouth of the great Kio Meta, we arrived 

 without accident at Carichana. The missionary received us 

 with that kind hospitality which he extended to us on our 

 first passage. The sky was unfavourable for astronomical ob- 

 servations ; we had obtained some new ones in the two Great 

 Cataracts ; but thence, as far as the mouth of the Apure, 

 we were obliged to renounce the attempt. M. Bonpland 

 had the satisfaction at Carichana of dissecting a manati more 

 than nine feet long. It was a female, and the flesh appeared 

 to us not unsavoury. I have epoken iu another place of tin 



