218 PASSAGE OF THE UPPER CATARACT. 



fruit is a powerful febrifuge, and is used as such in 

 preference to the astringent bark of the cinchona or 

 Bonplandia trifoliata. 



The longitude of this place was found to be 68° 

 17' 9", the latitude 5° 13' 57" ; differing from the best 

 maps then existing by half a degree of longitude and 

 as much of latitude. The thermometer during the 

 night indicated from 80° to 84°, and in the day 86°. 

 The water of the river was 81.7°, and that of a 

 spring 82°. 



Having spent some days at the mission of May- 

 pures, the travellers embarked at two in the after- 

 noon in the canoe procured at the turtle island, 

 which, although considerably damaged by the care- 

 lessness of the Indians, was judged sufficient for the 

 long voyage they had yet to perform. Above the 

 great cataracts they found themselves, as it were, in a 

 new world. Towards the east, in the extreme dis- 

 tance, rose the great chain of the Cunavami moun- 

 tains, one of the peaks of which, named Calida- 

 mini, reflects at sunset a reddish glare of light. 

 After encountering one more rapid they entered 

 upon smooth water, and passed the night on a rocky 

 island. 



On the 22d they set out at an early hour. The 

 morning was damp but delicious, and not a breath of 

 wind was felt ; a perpetual calm reigning to the 

 south of the cataracts, which Humboldt attributes 

 to the windings of the rivers, the shelter of moun- 

 tains, and the almost incessant rains. In the valley 

 of the Amazon, on the contrary, a strong breeze 

 rises every day at two in the afternoon, which, how- 

 ever, is felt only along the line of the current. It 

 always moves against the stream, and by means of 

 it a boat may go up the Amazon under sail a length 

 of 2590 miles. The great salubrity of this district 

 is probably owing to the gale. They passed the 

 mouths of several streams, and admired the gran- 

 deur of the cerros of Lipapo, a branch of the cordil- 



