180 VOYAGE DOWN THE APURE. 



CHAP. XVL tropics being thus renewed, the rains cease, the vapour? 

 are dibsolved, and the sky resumes its azure tint. 



Cctacious At San Fernando, IlumLoldt observed in the river 



■"^^^^"^ long files of cetaceous animals resembling the common 

 porpoise. The crocodiles seemed to dislike them, and 

 dived whenever thoy approached. They ■were three or 

 four feet long, and appear to be peculiar to the great 

 streams of South America, as he saw some of them above 

 the cataracts of the Orinoco, whither they could not 

 have ascended from the sea. 



Rainv season. The rainy season had now commenced, and as the 

 way to that river by land lies across an unhealthy and 

 uninteresting flat, they preferred the longer way by the 

 Rio Apure, and embarked in a large canoe or lancha, 

 having a pilot and four Indians for crew. A cabin was 

 constructed in the stern, of sufficient size to hold a table 

 and benches, and covered with corypha-leaves. They 



Provisions put on board a stock of provisions for a month, while 



iuiavoyuse. ^j^g Capuchin missionary, with whom they had lodged 

 during their stay, supplied them with wine, oranges, and 

 tamarinds. Fishing-instniments, fire-arms, and some 

 casks of brandy, for bartering with the natives, were 

 added to their store. On the 30th March, at four in the 

 afternoon, they left San Fernando, accompanied by Don 

 Nicolas Sojio, brother-in-law of the governor of the 

 province. The river abounds in fish, manatees, and 

 turtles, and its banks are peopled by numberless birds, 

 of which the pauxi and guacharaca are the most useful 



Apurita ^^ man. Passing the mouth of the A purito, they coasted 

 the island of the same name, formed by the Apure and 

 Guarico, and which is seventy-six miles in length. On 

 the banks they saw huts of the Yaruroes, who live by 

 liunting and fishing, and are very skilful in killing 

 jaguars, tlic skins of which they dispose of in the 

 Spanish villages. Tlie iiight was passed at Diamante, a 

 small sugar-plantation. 



On the .31st a contrary wind obliged them to remain 

 on shore till noon, when they embarked, and as they 

 proceeded found the river gradually widcnmg ; one of 



