206 



MISSION OF ATURES. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



Voi/age up the Orinoco continued. 



Mission of Atures — Epidemic Fevers — Black Crust of Granitic 

 Rocks — Causes of Depopulation of the iMissions — Falls of Apures 

 — Scenerj' — Anecdote of a Jaguar — Domestic Animals — Wild 

 Man of the Woods — Mosquitoes and other poisonous Insects — 

 Mission and Cataracts of Maypures — Scenerj- — Inhabitants — 

 Spice-trees— San Fernando de Atabapo — San Baltasar — The 

 Mother's Rock — Vefj^etation — Dolphins — San Antonio de Javita 

 — Indians — Elastic Gum — Serpents — Portage of the Piniichin — 

 Arrival at the Rio Nej^ro, a Branch of the Amazon — Ascent of 

 the Casiquiare. 



CHAP.xvilL Leaving the island of Panumana at an early hour the 

 navigators continued to ascend the Orinoco, the scenery 

 on which became more interesting the nearer they ap- 

 proached the great cataracts. The sky was in part 

 obscured, and lightnings flashed among the dense clouds ; 

 but no thunder was heard. On the western bank of 

 the river they perceived the fires of an encampment of 

 Guahiboes, to intimidate whom some shots were dis- 

 charged by the direction of the missionary. In the 

 evening they arrived at the foot of the great fall, and 

 passed the niglit at the mission of Atures in its neigh- 

 bourhood. Tile flat savannah which surrounds the 

 village seemed to Humboldt to have formerly been the 

 bed of the Orinoco. 



This station was found to be in a deplorable state, 

 the Indians having gradually deserted it until only 



Interesting 

 scenery. 



Native 



encamp- 



meuL 



