SAN FERNANDO DE ATABIPO. 955 
the mountains on the east retired farther back. The 
traces left by the floods were not higher than eight 
feet. At the place where they passed the night, 
multitudes of bats issued from the crevices, and ho- 
vered around their hammocks. Next day a violent 
rain obliged them to set out at a very early hour. 
In the afternoon they landed at the Indian planta- 
tions of San Fernando, and after midnight arrived 
at the mission, where they were received with the 
kindest hospitality. 
The village of San Fernando de Atabipo is si- 
tuated near the confluence of the Orinoco, the Ata- 
bipo, and the Guaviare; the latter of which Hum- 
boldt thinks might with more propriety be consider- 
ed the continuation of the Orinoco than a branch. 
The number of inhabitants did not exceed 226. 
The missionary had the title of president of the sta- 
tions on the Orinoco, and superintended the twenty- 
six ecclesiastics settled on its banks, as well as on those 
of the Rio Negro, Casiquiare, Atabipo, and Caura. 
The Indians were a little more civilized than the 
inmates of the other establishments, and cultivated 
cacao in small quantities, together with cassava and 
plantains. They were surrounded with good pastur- 
age, but not more than seven or eight cows were to be 
seen. The most striking object in the neighbourhood 
was the pirijao palm, which has a thorny trunk 
more than sixty-four feet high, pinnated leaves, and 
clusters of fruits two or three inches in diameter, 
and of a purple colour. The fruit furnishes a fari- 
naceous substance, of a colour resembling that of 
the yolk of an egg, which when boiled or roasted 
affords a very wholesome and agreeable aliment. 
On entering the Rio Atabipo the travellers found 
