232 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



(Drosera) , besides the 

 grasses of the more 

 favorable areas. 



At the brink of the 

 falls, from which mar- 

 velous views down the 

 gorge unfold, the rock 

 falls away in great 

 blocks, sometimes 

 leaving a step upon 

 which the waters dash 

 into foam before 

 plunging into the 

 depths below. 



In the cavern behind 

 the watery curtain im- 

 mense flocks of swal- 

 lows pass the night, 

 winging their way 

 back in the late after- 

 noon from their day's 

 flight about the coun- 

 try. 



HOW THE EXPLORER 



SLEEPS IN THE 



BUSH 



The base camp at 

 Kaieteur was estab- 

 lished a mile or so 

 above the falls, near 

 the margin of the 

 upper Potaro River. 



It was a simple and 

 characteristic estab- 

 lishment. A rough 

 framework of sap- 

 lings supports a tar- 

 paulin as a roof, but 

 all sides are left en- 

 tirely open. The ridge- 

 pole rests at one end 

 in the natural fork of 

 a stout pole, while the 

 The setting, also, is perfect ; no signs other is held by a similar pole against a 

 of human habitation or human works large tree. The edges of the canvas roof 

 mar the surroundings ; all is wild nature are laid over eaves-poles similarly sup- 

 at its best. ported and are held out and tied to 



The geological details are no less in- slender sticks driven into the ground, 

 terestmg in themselves. The plateau A camp bed is useless or worse ; one 

 everywhere is surfaced with a dense con- 

 glomerate bearing very little soil : so that, 

 despite the heavy rains of the wet sea- 

 son, it affords poor holding ground for 

 vegetation. In effect a rockv savanna, 

 its characteristic plant inhabitants are a 

 giant Bromeliad and an abundant sundew 



THE CARIBS, INTO WHOSE TERRITORY THE RORAIMA EXPE- 

 DITION PENETRATED, ARE SKILLFUL HUNTERS 



Both the hows and arrows of these natives measure six feet_ and 

 more in length. The clothing of the men consists of an abbreviated 

 loin-cloth. The simple garment of the women is a small apron of 

 white beads — the "lap" or "queyu" — depending from a cord about 

 the waist. 



sleeps in a wide hammock of Indian 

 weave, slung from the ridge-pole. Poi- 

 sonous snakes are far from uncommon 

 and scorpions several inches long may 

 be picked up from among the leaves and 

 sticks beneath the hammock. The trav- 

 eler soon forms the habit of shaking out 



