4(50 TROPICAL WILD LIFE IN BRITISH GUIANA 



before the rains — January to ]May — boats go up full, with 

 laborers and provisions, and often return empty. At such 

 times it is ])ossible to send down packages from llapo-nunni 

 ]Mouth. Tlie boats of the two ?^Iissions might, also, render 

 some services, when running, which is not often. It might 

 be found advisable to hire a boat for the whole period, for 

 crews for the down-trips can be collected upon the savannahs. 

 Some might prefer to buy a new boat, fitted according to 

 requirements. The cost would vary from $130 to $180, com- 

 plete, with fittings. Through the Protector of Indians it 

 would be possible to procure a crew, with captain and bow- 

 man, from the savannahs. These Indians would scatter to 

 their homes, upon arrival; they need not be maintained nor 

 paid during the following months; and they, or others, would 

 be available when it was desired to send the boat down again. 

 To take a crew from Town would entail much more expense, 

 and would be less satisfactory. Incidentally, the Indians 

 can hunt and fish, on the way up, and can procure a needed 

 change of diet. From Potaro ]\Iouth to Sipruni ^Nlouth 

 occupied us just a week. Another week had fled when we 

 reached Inkapati, not far from the confluence of the Rapo- 

 nunni and Essequibo. To the ^lission Landing from Inka- 

 pati may be anything from six to nine days, according to the 

 state of the river. We took exactly a month from George- 

 town to the ]Mission, in October, 1913. The journey up the 

 Essequibo is made over many rapids and falls. It is ardu- 

 ous and dangerous. The traveler is probably more inter- 

 ested in the experiences and delighted with the scenery than 

 oppressed by a sense of danger. At Rewa Mouth, the ka- 

 bouri flies begin to be troublesome, and a supply of citronella 

 oil. for anointing the exposed parts of the body, will be 

 appreciated. 



A portable motor can be used over two stretches, be- 

 tween the I'apids, on the Essequibo, and. unless the river is 

 very low, it will serve from the ]\louth u]) to the I^anding. 

 The usual means of propulsion is the })ad(lle. Where the 



