g | INDIAN- ON A I I: \MI\ 



as supports for the feel of men and 1". $t& Some of 

 these roots were twenty inches thick, and they often 

 branched out from the trunks of the trees much above 

 the level of the soil. The Creoles had sufficient confi- 

 dence in the address and instinct of tin- mules, to remain 

 in their Baddies during this long and dangerous descent 

 V aring fatigue Irs- than they did, and being accustomed 

 • travel slowly for the purpose of gathering plants and 



:amining the nature of the rocks, Eumboldl and Bon- 

 pland preferred going down on foot. 



The weather was cloudy. The sun at times illumined 

 the tops of the trees, and, though sheltered from its 

 rays, they felt an oppressive heat. Thunder rolled at a 

 distance; the clouds seemed suspended on the tops of 

 the lofty mountains of the Guacharo ; and the plaintive 

 howling of the monkeys denoted the proximity of a 

 storm. They stopped to observe these monkeys, which, 

 to the number of thirty or forty, crossed the road, pass- 

 ing in a til<" firom one tree to another over the horizontal 

 and intersecting branch' While the travellers were 



observing their movements they saw a troop of Indians 



• lug towards the mountains of Caripe. They were 



without clothing, as the natives <>('this country generally 

 arc. The women, laden with rather heavy burdens, 

 closed the march. The men were all armed, and even 

 the youngest boys had bows and arrows. They moved 

 on in silence, with their eyes fixed on the ground. The 

 travellers endeavoured to learn Gram them whether they 

 we • far IV. >m the Mission of Santa Cruz, where they 



g the aight. They were overcome with 

 fati . and suffered from thii The heat increased as 

 the storm drew near, ami they had not met with a single 



