RORAIMA. 335 
and draw the water up as from a well. Having made 
our arrangements for the night we started for the diffi- 
cult ascent to the base of the gigantic sandstone cliff, 
leaving behind the three Arekunas, whose superstitious 
fears prevented their climbing farther. After an hour’s 
dangerous walking over the branches of trees and through 
Jong tunnels, from the sides of which festoons of wet 
mosses hung, and from whose green vaultings cold water 
like that of a shower-bath continually dropped, we suc- 
-ceeded in getting near the base of the cliff. My intention 
was to climb some of the great boulders which rose to a 
height of about a hundred feet at the foot of the wall, so as 
to get a perspective view, which it was impossible to 
obtain among the bushes, but after arriving at the rocks I 
found my projeét beset with great difficulties. Between 
_,the ground on which we stood and the boulders, was a 
gulf about five hundred feet deep, over which stretched 
.a natural bridge about a hundred feet long, formed of a 
tangle of bush ropes, so closely intermingled that it was 
‘only through a few openings that a sight of the deep 
-precipice could be obtained. The Indians carefully 
stepped over this natural bridge and I followed. The 
bush-ropes swayed to and fro under our weight but they 
_ were so thick and strong that it was impossible that they 
could break or tear away. Now and again one or another 
slipped so that his legs went through ; he sat down as if 
viding the tough ropes and could not gain his feet until 
-released from this disagreeable position by some of his 
companions. 
At last the great boulders were reached. As the one 
-1 intended to climb was wet and siimy I took off my 
sandals and stockings at its foot, and then, with very 
UU 2 
