190 



CARIB INDIANS. 



first went up towards the south-west as far as the 

 shore of the Guaricoto Indians on the left bank, and 

 then towards the south. The mountains of Encara- 

 mada, forming a continued chain from west to east, 

 seemed to rise from the water as distant land rises 

 on the horizon at sea. The beach was composed 

 of clay intermixed with scales of mica, deposited 

 in very thin strata. At the port of Encaramada, 

 where they stopped for some time, they met with a 

 Carib cacique going up the river in his canoe to 

 gather turtles' eggs. He was armed with a bow and 

 arrows, as were his attendants, and, like them, he 

 was naked and painted red. These Indians were 

 tall and athletic, and, with their hair cut straight 

 across the forehead, their eyebrows painted black, 

 and their gloomy but animated countenances had a 

 singular appearance. The travellers were surprised 

 to find that the anterior portion of the cranium is 

 not so depressed as those of the Caribs are usually 

 represented to be. The women carried their infants 

 on their backs. The shore is here formed by a rock 

 forty or fifty feet high, composed of blocks of gran- 

 ite piled upon each other ; the surface of which was 

 of a dark-gray colour, although the interior was red- 

 dish-white. The night was passed in a creek oppo- 

 site the mouth of the Rio Cabullare. The evening was 

 beautiful, with moonlight ; but towards twelve the 

 north-east wind blew so violently that they became 

 apprehensive for the safety of their canoe. 



On the 6th, continuing to ascend, they saw the 

 southern side of the mountains of Encaramada, 

 which stretch along the right bank of the river, and 

 are inhabited by Indians of a gentle character, and 

 addicted to agriculture. There is a tradition here, 

 and elsewhere on the Orinoco, among the natives, 

 " That at the time of the Great Waters, when their 

 fathers were obliged to betake themselves to their 

 canoes in order to escape the general inundation, 

 the waves of the sea beat upon the rocks of Encara- 



