RORAIMA. 331 
venison, of which the greater part was at once handed 
to the cook. 
After finishing my meal I asked the Arekunas: to 
accompany me to the summit of the mountain, but they 
decidedly refused. Their chief told me that it was only 
up to where we were, and not farther, that they had 
intended to accompany me, as their superstitious fear of 
an evil spirit, and also a mighty eagle which lived at the 
top and killed every one who approached too near, pre- 
vented them ascending the mountain. 
For a long time all my remonstrances failed in pro- 
ducing any effeét, but at last, when my patience was 
almost exhausted, by a promise of rich presents, I 
succeeded in getting the chief’s consent to goa little far- 
ther upwards with several of his Indians. To cut a path 
through the dense stunted bush, which extends along the 
base of the high sandstone cliff, he sent two of his 
boldest people, whom five of my Indians accompanied, 
all provided with cutlasses, so that we might not be ham- 
pered in ascending the mountain. 
That this day might not be passed in an unprofitable 
manner, I undertook a botanical excursion, ascending 
the steep slopes which lead to the summit, where I was 
richly rewarded by the rare plants which I found on the 
savannah, and skirts of the forest; these consisted more 
especially of ferns and ground orchids, which covered 
the ground. Near the stunted bush, at the foot of the 
sandstone wall, towards which I advanced, were lying 
mighty blocks which had fallen from the cliffs, com- 
pletely covered on their tops with orchids. Besides the 
lovely Cleistes rosea I found in the crannies of the rocks 
Masdevallia Guyanensis, Oncidium pulchellum, Cattleya 
