ARRIVAL AT ANGOSTURA. 2-J3 



fetch water from a part of the shore to which they do chap. xix. 



not usually go for it, I suspect that a murder has been 



committed in my mission." 



On the 7th June the travellers took leave of Father Father 

 Ramon Bueno, whom Humboldt eulogizes as the only 'fi""™ 

 one of ten missionaries of Guiana whom they had seen 

 who appeared to be attentive to any thing that regarded 

 the natives. The night was passed at the island of 

 Cucurupara, to the east of which is the mouth of the 

 Cano de la Tortuga. On its southern bank is the almost 

 deserted station of San Miguel de la Tortuga ; in the 

 neighbourhood of which, according to the Indians, are 

 otters with a very fine fur, and lizards witli two feet. 



From the island of Cucurupara to Angostura, the Rate nf 

 capital of Guiana, a distance of little less than 328 miles, J""™^J- 

 the travellers were only nine days on the water. On 

 the 8th June they landed at a farm opposite the mouth 

 of the Apure, where Humboldt obtained some good ob- 

 servations of latitude and longitude ; and on the 9th 

 met a great number of boats laden with goods, on their 

 way to that river. Here Don Nicolas Soto, wlio had 

 accompanied them on their voyage to the Rio Negro, 

 took leave and returned to his family. As they ad- increasing 

 vanced, the population became more considerable, population, 

 consisting almost exclusively of whites, negroes, and 

 mulattoes. On the 11th they passed the mouth of the 

 Rio Caura, near which is a small lake formed in 1790 

 by the sinking of the ground in consequence of an earth- 

 quake. The Boca del Infierno and the Randal de 

 Camiseta, a series of whirlpools and rapids caused l)y a 

 chain of small rocks, were the only remarkable features 

 that occurred until they reached Angostura. 



On ai-riving at the capital, they hastened to present Arrival at 

 tliemselves to Don Felipe de Ynciarte, the govej'uor of Angostura. 

 Guiana, who received them in the most obliging manner. 

 A painful circumstance forced them to remain a whole 

 month in this place. They were both, a few days after 

 their arrival, attacked by a disorder, which in M. Bon- 

 p 



