226 ASCENT OF THE ORINOCO. 
not assemble on the three shores of the encamp- 
ments, but many lay elsewhere. The number which 
annually deposite their eggs on the shores of the 
Lower Orinoco may, therefore, be estimated at little 
short of a million. The travellers were shown the 
shells of large turtles which had been emptied by 
the jaguars. These animals surprise them on the 
sand, and turn them on their back in order to de- 
vour them at their ease ; they dig up the eggs also ; 
and, together with the gallinazo vulture and the 
herons, destroy thousands of their brood. 
After procuring some fresh provision, and taking 
leave of the missionary, they set sail in the after- 
noon. The wind blew in squalls, and after they 
had entered the mountainous part of the country, 
they found the canoe not very safe when under 
sail; but the master was desirous of showing off to 
the Indians, and in going close upon the wind al- 
most upset his vessel, which filled with water, and 
nearly foundered. In the evening they landed on a 
barren island, where they supped under a beautiful 
moonlight, with turtle-shells for seats, and indulged 
their imagination with the picture of a shipwrecked 
man, wandering on the desert shores of the Orinoco 
amid rivers full of crocodiles and caribe fishes. The 
night was intensely hot, and not finding trees on 
which to sling their hammocks, they slept on skins 
spread on the ground. To their surprise the jaguars 
swam to the island, although they had kindled fires 
to prevent them; but these animals did not venture 
to attack them. 
On the 7th they passed the mouth of the Rio 
Arauca, which is frequented by immense numbers 
of birds. ‘They also saw the mission of Uruana, at 
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