RAUDAL OF CAMI8ETA. 517 



months ; and some of them, it was believed, continued to 

 push forth leaves beneath the water. This phenomenon is 

 the more worthy of attention, as the soil of these countries 

 is probably granitic. I doubt the secondary formations of 

 the Llanos being continued southward as far as the valley 

 of Caura. 



On the llth of June we landed on the right bank of the 

 Orinoco at Puerto de los Frailes, at the distance of three 

 leagues above the Ciudad de la Piedra, to take altitudes of 

 the sun. The longitude of this point is 67 26' 20", or 

 1 41' east of the mouth of the Apure. Farther on, between 

 the towns of La Piedra and Muitaco, or Real Corona, are 

 the Torno and Boca del Infierno, two points formerly 

 dreaded by travellers. The Orinoco suddenly changes its 

 direction; it flows first east, then north-north-west, and 

 then again east. A little above the Cano Marapiche, 

 which opens on the northern bank, a very long island 

 divides the river into two branches. We passed on 

 the south of this island without difficulty; northward, a 

 chain of small rocks, half covered at high water, forms 

 whirlpools and rapids. This is la Boca del Infierno, and 

 the Eaudal de Camiseta. The first expeditions of Diego 

 Ordaz (1531) and Alonzo de Herrera (1535) have given 

 celebrity to this bar. The Great Cataracts of the Atures 

 and Maypures were then unknown ; and the clumsy vessels 

 (vergantwes) in which travellers persisted in going up the 

 river, rendered the passage through the rapids extremely 

 difficult. At present no apprehension is felt in ascending 

 or descending the Orinoco, at any season, from its mouth as 

 far as the confluence of the Apure and the Meta. The only 

 falls of water in this space are those of Torno or Camiseta, 

 Marimara, and Cariven or Carichana Vieja. Neither of 

 these three obstacles is to be feared with experienced Indian 

 pilots. I dwell on these hydrographic details, because a 

 great political and commercial interest is now connected 

 with the communications between Angostura and the banks 

 of the Meta and the Apure, two rivers that lead to the 

 eastern side of the Cordilleras of New Grenada. The navi- 

 gation from the mouth of the Lower Orinoco to the province 

 of Varinas is difficult only on account of the current. The 

 bed of the river no vhere presents obstacles more difficult to 



