SCENERY OF THE LOWER CATARACT. 209 



equal parts ; those situated between the lower 

 cataract, 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 this division 

 there are rapids which can be passed only in small 

 boats. The principal danger, however, is that which 

 arises from natural rafts, consisting of trees inter- 

 woven 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 savannas, which are covered with grasses and 

 slender plants, though never inundated by the river, 

 present a surprising luxuriance and diversity of 

 vegetation. Piles of granitic blocks rise here and 

 there, and at the margins of the plains occur deep 

 valleys and ravines, the humid soil of which is 

 covered with arums, heliconias, and lianas. The 

 shelves of primitive rocks, scarcely elevated above 

 the plain, are. partially coated with lichens and 

 mosses, together with succulent plants, and tufts of 

 evergreen shrubs with shining leaves. On all sides 

 the horizon is bounded by mountains, overgrown 

 with forests of laurels, among which clusters of 

 palms rise to the height of more than a hundred 

 feet, their slender stems supporting tufts of feathery 

 foliage. To the east of Atures other mountains ap- 

 S 2 



