“= 
RORAIMA. 337 
through which like silver ribbons wound the nume- 
rous rivers which originate from the summits of Roraima 
and Kukenaam—the Kukenaam, Camaiba, Arabo-pu, and 
Cotinga. And, all this in most brilliant colours, which 
with the changing light, appeared more or less intense 
every moment. 
While I was admiring the magnificent panorama, the 
old chief came up and pointed with his hand to the 
south where lay a valley between low hills, through which 
flowed the broad Kukenaam. It covered a considerable 
area, but in other respeéts was like all savannah valleys 
having nothing strange or particularly interesting. How- 
ever, to draw my attention he gave me its name as 
Beckeranta. 
I must have heard this name before but could not at 
that moment remember where. My interpreter, the 
hunter WEY-TORREH, told me that many years ago 
several hundred Indians had killed each other and were 
there buried. Once more | glanced at the far distant 
luxuriant savannah, the soil of which was manured so 
richly with blood, and saw that the country round about 
was indeed very charming, but considering the horrible 
butchery, less agreeable for the eye torest upon. WEyY- 
_ TORREH was eager to give me further information about 
this horrible affair, but I told him that this was not the 
place for it and that I would ask him on the morrow. 
On the top of the small plateau above the precipices I 
intended to make a sketch of thecliffof Roraima. Forsome 
time I remained on the top of the great boulder, colle€ting 
a few pretty ferns which grew in clumps on the surface, 
then giving the word to return, my companions scrambled 
as well as they could down its slippery sides. I preferred 
