120 TlMEHRI. 



The next day, Sunday — days which by special request 

 were set apart for rest — was spent at this same camping 

 place ; and it was amusing to study during these days 

 the various occupations of the men— among which 

 elaborate cooking, and washing and mending of clothes, 

 formed the chief features. The making and baking of 

 "bulls" (an immense flat cake, made of flour and water, 

 and salt pork chopped into small pieces, and sufficient to 

 satisfy the hunger of at least six or seven men) was the 

 most serious item, and one requiringaconsiderable amount 

 of time — the baking being performed in the hot fine sand 

 and embers, over which a large fire had been made. 



Not far above Shipariparu, Oumiah mountain on the 

 left bank comes into full view, and a few small rapids 

 are encountered, ere the mouth of the Potaro is reached. 

 Below the rapids, a very fine specimen of the rare and 

 curious, freshwater, matamata tortoise (Chelysmatamata) 

 was shot by the captain with the bow and arrow, and 

 several other animals were obtained while hunting. The 

 matamata presents a most grotesque appearance ; for its 

 carapace is covered with conical proje£tions, and its 

 non-retra6lile neck and head are furnished with curious 

 warts and bristly bunches, the head being broad and 

 flattened, and produced into a pointed beak. 



On Smith's island, at a short distance below the mouth 

 of the Potaro, is to be found the site of an old Dutch 

 post — Smith's Post, as it is termed. Here the track of the 

 cayman led in every direction across the sand and into the 

 bush, and as it was said to be their season for laying, close 

 search was made for nests, but without success. 



Early on Tuesday morning, we entered the mouth of 

 the Potaro, and found that the water here, as in the 



