CAUIB INDIANS. lUl 



the shores, 84-6°. They first went up toward the south- cuap.xvil 



west as far as the shore of the Guaricoto Indians on the t- — , 



left bank, and then toward the south. The mountains 



of Encaramada, forming a continued chain from west to 



east, seemed to rise from the water as distant land rises 



on the horizon at sea. The beach was composed of clay 



intermixed with scales of mica, deposited in very thin 



strata. At tlie j^ort of Encaramada, where they stopped 



for some time, they met with a Carib cacique going up 



the river in his canoe to gather turtles' eggs. He was q^^^ 



armed with a bow and arrows, as were his attendants, intiiana. 



and, like them, he Avas naked and painted red. These 



Indians were tall and athletic, and, with their hair cut 



straight across the forehead, their eyebrows painted 



black, and their gloomy hut animated countenances, had 



a singular appearance. The travellers were surprised to 



find that the anterior portion of the cranium is not so 



depressed as those of the Caribs are usually represented 



to be. The women carried their infants on their backs. 



The shore is here formed by a rock forty or fifty feet 



high, composed of blocks of granite piled upon each 



other ; the surface of which was of a dark-gray colour, 



although the mterior was reddish-white. The night 



was passed in a creek opposite the mouth of the Rio 



Cabullare. The evening was beautiful, with moonlight ; 



but towards twelve the north-east wind blew so violently 



that they became apprehensive for the safety of their 



canoe. 



On the 6th, continuing to ascend, they saw the, 

 southern side of the mountains of Encaramada, which tradiuona 

 stretch along the right bank of the river, and are inha- 

 bited by Indians of a gentle character, and addicted to 

 agriculture. There is a tradition here, and elsewhere 

 on the Orinoco, among the natives, " That at the time 

 of the Great Waters, when their fathers were obliged to 

 betake themselves to their canoes in order to escape the 

 general mundation, the waves of the sea beat upon the 

 rocks of Encaramada." When the Tamanacs are asked 

 how the human race survived this great deluge, they 



