Along the Essequebo and Potaro. 119 



from the river by a high ridge, but leading into 

 it by a narrow entrance through the bush — we were 

 successful in procuring some fine specimens, among 

 them being a female " baboon" or howling monkey 

 (Mycetes seniciilns) , a warracaba bird or trumpeter 

 (Psophia crepitans), and some lizards, molluscs, and 

 inse6ls. In the lake, into which boats can pass when the 

 river is full, the arapaima (Arapaima gigas) — the largest 

 of the fresh water Teleostean fishes, growing to the im- 

 mense length of fifteen feet, and closely related to the her- 

 rings — is said to be found ; but they are only obtainable by 

 shooting them with the bow and arrow, from aboat launched 

 on the lake. In the river, close by, a fine ducklar was shot. 

 The birds were so shy that the only chance of procuring 

 them was by resting the boat some distance away, and 

 sending an Indian to steal on them through the forest. 



Soon after leaving Curro-curro, a fine view was obtained 

 of Yaya mountain, an inconsiderable elevation on the 

 right bank, and stretching far way in the background; and 

 in the afternoon, soon after passing Cumparu, where there 

 is an Indian track leading across to the Demerara river, 

 a camp was made at Shipariparu {i.e., " sting-ray water)" 

 on the right bank, close to an immense dyke of green- 

 stone which stretches across the river, within sight of 

 Oumiah mountain, in the distance, on the left bank. 

 Here, red-billed barbets (Monasa atra) are extremely 

 common and easily procured ; and a labba (Ccelogenys 

 paca) and an adoorie (Dasyprocla acuchy) were caught 

 during die evening, but so damaged by the dogs as to 

 be rendered quite unfit for skinning. An immense 

 cayman was seen floating in a bay in the distance, but 

 there was no chance of procuring it. 



