932 SCENERY—CARICHANA. 
means to alleviate. Every night, when they estab- 
lished their watch, the collection of animals and 
instruments occupied the centre, around which were 
placed first their own hammocks, and then those 
of the Indians, while fires were lighted to intimi- 
date the jaguars. At sunrise the monkeys in the 
cages answered the cries of those in the forests, af- 
fording an affecting display of sympathy between 
the captive and the free. 
Above the deserted mission of Pararuma the river 
is full of islands, and divides into several branches. 
Its total breadth is about 6395 yards. The country 
becomes more wooded. A granitic prism, termi- 
nated by a flat surface covered with a tuft of trees, 
_ rises to the height of 213 feet in the midst of the forest. 
Farther on the river narrows ; and upon the east is 
an eminence, on which the Jesuits formerly main-— 
tained a garrison for protecting the missions against 
the inroads of the Caribs, and for extending what, 
in the Spanish colonies, was called the conquest of 
souls, which of course was effected through the con- 
quest of bodies. The soldiers made incursions into 
the territories of the independent Indians, killed all 
who offered resistance, burned their huts, destroyed 
the plantations, and made prisoners of the old men, 
women, and children, who were afterwards divided 
among their establishments. The river again con- 
tracted, and rapids began to make their appearance, 
the shores becoming sinuous and precipitous. Ina 
bay between two promontories of granite, they 
landed at what is called the Port of Carichana, and 
proceeded to the mission of that name, situated at 
the distance of two miles and a half from the bank, 
where they were hospitably received at the priest’s 
