papers 

 The 



XX11 SUMMARY. CATARACTS OF THE ORINOCO. 



Phenomena produced in the Steppe by a long drought. Sand 

 gpouts, hot winds, deceptive images by aerial refraction (mirage). The 

 awaking of crocodiles and tortoises after a long summer sleep pp. 

 136-142. 



Otomaks. General considerations respecting the earth-eating of cer- 

 tain tribes. Unctuous and Infusorial earths pp. 142-146. 



Carved Figures on rocks, which form a belt running east and west 

 from the Rupunuri, Essequibo, and mountains of Pacaraima, to the 

 solitudes of the Cassiquiare. Earliest observation (April, 1749) of such 

 traces of an ancient civilization, in the unpublished travels of the 

 Surgeon Nicolas Hortsmann, of Hildesheim, found among d'Anville's 

 rs pp. 147-151. 

 vegetable poison Curare, or Urari pp. 151-152. 



ON THE CATARACTS OF THE ORINOCO, NEAR ATURES 

 AND MAYPURES ...... pp. 153-173. 



The Orinoco, general view of its course. Ideas excited in the mind 

 of Columbus on beholding its mouth. Its unknown sources lie to the 

 east of the lofty Duida and of the thickets of Bertholletia. Cause of the 

 principal bends of the river pp. 153-162. The Falls. Raudal of 

 Maypures, bounded by four streams. Former state of the region. In- 

 sular form of the rocks Keri and Oco. Grand spectacle displayed on 

 descending the hill Manimi. A foaming surface, several miles in ex- 

 tent, suddenly presents itself to view. Iron-black masses of tower- 

 like rocks rise precipitately from the bed of the river; the summits 

 of the lofty palms pierce through the clouds of vapoury spray pp. 

 162-168. 



Raudal of Atures, another island-world. Rock-dykes, connecting one 

 island with the other. They are the resort of the pugnacious, golden- 

 coloured rock manakin. Some parts of the river-bed in the cataracts 

 are dry, in consequence of the waters having formed for themselves 

 a channel through subterranean cavities. Visit to these parts on the 

 approach of night, during a heavy thunder-storm. Unsuspected pro- 

 pinquity of crocodiles pp. 168-171. The celebrated cave of Ataruipe, 

 the grave of an extinct tribe pp. 171-173. 



SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATIONS AND ADDITIONS ... pp. 174-190. 

 Abode of the river-cow (Trichecus Manati) in the sea, at the spot 

 where, in the Gulf of Xagua on the southern coast of the Island of Cuba, 

 springs of fresh water gush forth pp. 174, 175. 



Geographical illustration of the sources of the Orinoco pp. 17 5-1 79. 



Juvia (Bertholletia), a Lecythidea, remarkable as an instance of lofty 

 organic development. Haulm of an Arundinaria upwards of sixteen feet 

 from joint to joint pp. 179-180. 



On the fabulous Lake Parime pp. 180-188. 



The Parrot of Atures, a poem by Ernst Curtius. The bird lived 

 in Maypures, and the natives declared that he was not understood, be- 

 cause he spoke the language of the extinct Aturian tribe pp. 188-190 



