THE MAQUIRITARES' LAND 171 



in the same tree. The nests of these birds differed from 

 those of the giant orioles (Ostinops) in being smaller and 

 having the opening at the top instead of at the side of the 

 swinging bag. 



At the end of the twentieth day we reached the mouth 

 of the Cunucunuma, and camped upon its sandy banks for 

 the night. This river is approximately five hundred feet 

 wide at its mouth, shallow, with dark, clear water, and 

 flows southward, joining the Orinoco at right angles, as 

 the course of the latter river at this point is eastward; a 

 low, forested hill called Ventana rises to the north. One 

 may cover the distance from the mouth of the Cunucunuma 

 to the Cassiquiare in a day, and reach the plains on which 

 was located Esmeraldas by continuing his journey an addi- 

 tional day. 



Not far above the mouth of the river is the dry bed of a 

 stream, said to have been the former course of the Cunu- 

 cunuma; short, soft grass now covers the ancient, sandy 

 route and the lines of trees on each side present such clean- 

 cut edges as to suggest well-kept hedgerows. Tapirs and 

 capybaras have worn many paths through the luxuriant 

 sward; apparently these animals come out into the open 

 at night to feed. 



The current of the river is so strong that we could not 

 average more than four or five miles a day. Through the 

 clear water we could see shoals of fish and numbers of 

 large sting-rays darting about over the bottom. One fish, 

 resembling a beautifully spotted trout, rose eagerly to a 

 trailing hook baited with a strip of white cloth; it weighed 

 about a pound, and was called pabdn by the natives; on 

 two occasions members of this species leaped clear of the 

 water and into the boat as we poled along after nightfall. 

 Another kind greatly resembled a flying-fish, and leaving 

 the water singly or in pairs, skimmed over the surface for a 

 distance of twenty yards or more, and then dropped with 

 a splash; when "flying" it left a train of ripples in its wake, 

 as if long appendages were trailing after it. 



