CATAKACTS OF THE ORINOCO. 223 



(8526 E.) feet there often only remains an open channel of 

 twenty feet in width. The eastern side is now much more 

 inaccessible and dangerous than the western. 



At the confluence of the Cameji with the Orinoco, goods 

 are unladen in order that the empty canoe, or, as it is here 

 called, the Piragua, may be conveyed by Indians well ac- 

 quainted with the Eaudal to the mouth of the Toparo, where 

 the danger is considered to be past. Where the separate 

 rocks or steps (each of which is designated by a particular 

 name) are not much above two or three feet high, the 

 natives, if descending the stream, venture, remaining them- 

 selves in the canoe, to let it go down the falls : if they are 

 ascending the stream they leave the boat, swim forward, 

 and when after many unsuccessful attempts they have suc- 

 ceeded in casting a rope round the points of rock which 

 rise above the broken water, they draw up their vessel, 

 which is often either overset or entirely filled with water 

 in the course of these laborious proceedings. 



Sometimes, and it is the only case which gives the natives 

 any uneasiness, the canoe is dashed in pieces against the 

 rocks; the men have then to disengage themselves with 

 bleeding bodies from the wreck and from the whirling force 

 of the torrent, and to gain the shore by swimming. Where 

 the rocky steps are very high and extend across the entire 

 bed of the river, the light boat is brought to land and drawn 

 along the bank by moans of branches of trees placed under 

 it as rollers. 



The most celebrated and difficult steps, those of Purima- 

 nmi and Manimi, are between nine and ten feet high. I 



