Schomburgk's Account of Roraima. 299 



Sometimes the rising mist would spread over only small 

 districts, the Roraima for instance getting enveloped in 

 a thick layer of clouds, while the bronze coloured rocks 

 of the neighbouring Kukenaam were refle6ling the bright 

 rays of the sun, or these huge blocks of sandstone lay 

 hidden in a gloomy ocean of mist while their steep red 

 summits were lit up by glaring sunlight. 



In an equally abrupt manner the air currents used to 

 change. Only this minute all nature might seem at 

 peace. Not a breath of wind was stirring. I was busily 

 profiting by the bright quiet moments to dry my damp 

 blotting paper for the herbarium, including advertise- 

 ment sheets of the London Times, of which I had bought 

 up a stock in London for drying my plants, when a 

 sudden whirlwind carried them up by a spiral motion, 

 driving them off for miles and miles, amid the delighted 

 shouts of the Indians but to my own bitter mortifi- 

 cation. Many times on our excursions we encountered 

 them again streaming in the wind among the branches of 

 the trees or lying on the ground. At a height of 4,000 

 feet when ascending the Roraima, I still met some of 

 them drifting towards me before the wind.* Amidst 

 continual changes the day advanced to three o'clock in 

 the afternoon. Then almost regularly a wild thunder- 

 storm came on, accompanied by a violent downpourof rain. 

 If this finale was delayed until 5 o'clock in the afternoon 

 it was sure not to occur. The storm discharged itself 

 amidst frightful thunderings and once more the setting 

 sun poured his magic light on the red walls of Roraima 

 and Kukenaam, while the silvery gleam of the foaming 



t What became of Some of these sheets is told by Appun (See 

 Timehri 1893, p. 342). 



