268 ASCENT OF THE CASIQUIARE. 
numerous veins of quartz several inches broad. The 
night was spent at the mission of San Francisco 
Solano, on the left bank of the Casiquiare. The 
Indians were of two nations, the Pacimonales and 
Cheruvichahenas; and from the latter the travellers 
endeavoured to obtain some information respecting 
the upper part and sources of the Rio Negro, but 
without success. In one of the huts of the former 
tribe they purchased two large birds, a toucan 
and a macaw, to add to the already considerable 
stock which they possessed. Most of the animals 
were confined in small cages, while others ran at 
liberty all over the boat. At the approach of rain, 
the macaws uttered frightful screams, the toucan 
was desirous of gaining the shore in order to fish, 
and the little monkeys went in search of Father Zea 
to obtain shelter in his large sleeves. At night the 
leather case containing their provisions was placed in 
the centre ; then the instruments and cages ; around 
which were suspended the hammocks of the travel- 
lers ; and beyond them the Indians slept, protected | 
by a circle of fires to keep off the jaguars. 
On the 11th they left the mission of San Francis- | 
co Solano at a late hour to make a short day’s jour- 
ney, for the vapours had begun to break up, and the 
travellers were unwilling to go far from the mouth 
of the Casiquiare without determining the longi- 
tude and latitude. This they had an opportunity 
of doing at night in the neighbourhood of a solitary _ 
granite rock, the Piedra di Culimacari, which they 
found to be in lat. 2° 0’ 42” north, and long. 67° 
13’ 26" west. The determination was of great im- 
portance in a geographical and political point of 
view, for the greatest errors existed in maps, and 
: ba 
ude 
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