276 PROGRESS DOWN THE RIVER. 
that ancient traditions had mentioned as living near 
the sources of the Orinoco. The Guaicas, or di- 
minutive class, whom they measured, were in ge- 
neral from 4 feet 103 to 4 feet 114 inches in height ; 
and it was said that the whole tribe was of the same 
stature. The Guahariboes, or fair variety, were si- 
milar to the others in form and features, and differed 
only in having the skin of a lighter tint. 
On the 23d May the travellers left the mission 
of Esmeralda in a state of languor and weakness, 
caused by the torment of insects, bad nourishment, 
and a long voyage performed in a narrow and 
damp boat. They had not attempted to ascend the 
Orinoco towards its sources, as the country above 
that station was inhabited by hostile Indians; so 
that of the two geographical problems connected 
with the river,—the position of its sources and the 
nature of its communication with the Rio Negro,— 
they had been obliged to content themselves with 
the solution of the latter. When they embarked 
they were surrounded by the mulattoes and others 
who considered themselves Spaniards, and who en- 
treated them to solicit from the governor of Angostura 
their return to the Llanos, or at least their removal 
to the missions of the Rio Negro. Humboldt plead- 
ed the cause of these proscribed men at a subsequent 
period; but his efforts were fruitless. The weather 
was very stormy, and the summit of Duida was en-— 
veloped in clouds ; but the thunders which rolled 
there did not disturb the plains. Nor did they, ge- 
nerally speaking, observe in the valley of the Ori- 
noco those violent electric explosions which almost 
every night, during the rainy season, alarm the tra- 
veller along the Rio Magdalena. After four hours’ 
