Along the Esseouebo and Potaro. 109 



water is studded with masses of rocks, of all shapes 

 and sizes, indicating the approach to the first rapids of 

 Areti.ka ; while above, at -varying distances apart, the 

 rapids extend for about fifteen miles, after which smooth 

 water is reached, extending, with scarcely any interrup- 

 tion, nearly to the mouth of the Potaro, some sixty miles 

 distant. 



During the greater part of the second and third days 

 we were toiling among these rapids, pulling the boats 

 over in the customary manner by means of ropes, the 

 men standing in the water or on the rocks above the 

 rapid, as occasion offered ; unless, owing to the slight- 

 ness of the obstruction, it was possible to paddle 

 through — though, even then, only at a tremendous ex- 

 penditure of force, against an apparently slight current. 

 Marihi, formed by one great tumble of water ov^r a 

 mass of granite, where the Rev. Mr. Pearce and his 

 family (one little boy excepted) were drowned some 

 years ago while descending, seems to be the most 

 dreaded of these rapids; though Waybrook and Itabally 

 are the most wearisome, since they consist of a long 

 series of small and closely placed rapids, extending for 

 some miles towards the upper end of the set. 



All along this part of the river the scenery is extremely 

 beautiful ; and the traveller has spread before his eyes 

 an ever changing picture. Islands of all shapes and 

 sizes, from the barren and often fantastically shaped 

 rock, at times capped bv a single shrub or tree, to the 

 large and well woe led areas of several miles extent, 

 stud the course, hiding the true banks of the river; 

 while granite blocks, often intertwisted with gneissic 

 pieces, washed and worn into rounded masses by the 



