PASSAGE OP THE' CATARACTS. 215 



insects, although not so severely as recently-arrived 

 Europeans. 



The travellers, after remaining two days in the 

 vicinity of the cataract of Atures, proceeded on the 

 17th to rejoin their canoe, already conducted by 

 eight Indians of the mission through the rapids, and 

 reached it about eleven in the morning, accompanied 

 by Father Zea, who had procured a small stock of 

 provisions, consisting of plantains, cassava, and 

 fowls. The river was now free from shoals ; and 

 after a few hours they passed the rapids of Garcita, 

 and perceived numerous small holes at an elevation 

 of more than 190 feet above the level of the current, 

 which appeared to have been caused by the erosion 

 of the waters. The night was spent in the open air, 

 on the left bank. 



On the 18th they set out at three in the morning, 

 and near five in the afternoon reached the Raudal 

 des Guahiboes, on the dike of which they landed 

 while the Indians were drawing up the boat. The 

 gneiss rock exhibited circular holes, produced by 

 the friction of pebbles, in one of which they prepared 

 a beverage consisting of water, sugar, and the juice 

 of acid fruits, for the purpose of allaying the thirst 

 of the missionary, who was seized by a fever fit ; 

 after which they had the pleasure of bathing in a 

 quiet place in the midst of the cataracts. After an 

 hour's' delay, the boat having been got up, they re- 

 embarked their instruments and provisions. The 

 river was 1705 yards broad, and had to be crossed 

 obliquely, at a part where the waters rushed with 

 extreme rapidity towards the bar over which they 

 were precipitated. In the midst of this dangerous 

 navigation they were overtaken by a thunder-storm 

 accompanied by torrents of rain ; and after rowing 

 twenty minutes found that so far from having made 

 progress they were approaching the fall. But, as 

 the Indians redoubled their efforts, the danger was 

 escaped, and the boat arrived at nightfall in the port of 



