242 CATARACTS OF THE ORINOCO. 
nitic mountains, constituting part of the Parime 
range. By the natives they are called Mapara and 
Quittuna; but the missionaries have denominated 
them the falls of Atures and Maypures, after the 
first tribes which they assembled in the nearest vil- 
lages. They are only 41 miles distant from each 
other, and are not more than 345 miles west of the 
eordilleras of New Grenada. They divide the Chris- 
tian establishments of Spanish Guiana into two 
unequal parts ; those situated between the lower ca- 
taract, or that of Apures, being called the missions 
of the Lower Orinoco, and those between the upper 
cataract and the mountains of Duida, being called 
the missions of the Upper Orinoco. The length 
of the lower section, including its sinuosities, is 
897 miles, while that of the upper is 576 miles. 
The navigation of the river extends from its 
mouth to the point where it meets the Anaveni 
near the lower. cataract, although in the upper part 
~of th division there are rapids which can be passed 
o~'y mm small boats. The principal danger, how- 
ever, is that which arises from natural rafts, con- 
sisting of trees interwoven with lianas, and covered 
with aquatic plants carried. down by the current. 
The cataracts are formed by bars stretching across 
the bed of the river, which forces its way through | 
a break in the mountains; but beyond this rugged 
pass the course is again open for a length of more 
than 576 miles. 
The scenery in the vicinity of the lower fall is 
described as exceedingly beautiful. To the west of 
Atures, a pyramidal mountain, the Peak of Uniana, 
rises from a plain to the height of nearly 3200 
feet. The savannahs, which are covered with 
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