172 IN THE WILDS OF SOUTH AMERICA 



There now followed a series of low, disconnected moun- 

 tains which might be called the foot-hills of Duida. The 

 first of these is the Cerro Piapoco, one thousand three 

 hundred feet high; parts of it are covered with low scrub 

 growth, and the river winds around three sides of it. Next 

 comes the Cerro Tapicure, a rounded granite mass approxi- 

 mately one thousand four hundred feet high. At the base 

 of the latter is a Maquiritare plantation of yucas (Manihot), 

 pineapples, and plantains, on the edge of which stood the 

 communal house, conical in shape and one hundred feet in 

 diameter. The place was temporarily deserted, as the In- 

 dians were down-river gathering the rubber harvest. Near 

 by also grew a palm new to us, the Tamiche; it is thirty 

 feet high, with erect, undivided leaves, and the crown re- 

 sembles a huge, green, opening tulip. 



While tramping in the forest across the river from the 

 Indian plantation we came suddenly upon a Maquiritare 

 woman and her four small children, squatting around a 

 small fire built under a rough lean-to. She was roasting a 

 curassow and tearing off pieces for her young brood, which 

 was devouring them with the voracity of wolves. The 

 frightened glances of these wild people and their gnawing 

 at the half-cooked flesh was quite in keeping with their 

 surroundings, and stamped them immediately as a perfect 

 part of the virgin wilderness. 



Rapids are not wanting in the Cunucunuma. The first 

 is the Randal del Muerto, formed by a wide ledge of rock 

 which extends across the river, and over which the water 

 rushes with a deafening roar. Next comes the Randal del 

 Sina, which is longer but not so difficult to navigate. Just 

 above this we entered the Sina, a small stream which comes 

 from the direction of Duida, and ascended to its highest 

 navigable point; this, however, was only a few miles above 

 its mouth. 



The Cunucunuma, it may be stated, rises in the vicinity 

 of the little-known Cerro Cuachamacari, and may be 

 ascended to the foot of the Cerro Maravaca, On most 



