THE RIVER NEGRO. 



279 



streams, about four hundred miles; there the rapids commence, and 

 the further ascent must be made in boats. Though large vessels may 

 not ascend these rapids, they descend without difficulty. Most of the 

 vessels that ply both on the Rio Negro and Oronoco are built at or 

 near San Carlos, the frontier port of Venezuela, situated above the 

 rapids of the Negro, and are sent down those rapids, and also up the 

 Cassiquiari and down the Oronoco to Angostura, passing the two great 

 rapids of Atures and Maypures, where that river turns from its westerly 

 course toward the north. They cannot again ascend these rapids. 

 Antonii has a new vessel lying at Barra, built at San Carlos ; it is one 

 hundred tons burden, and is well constructed, except that the decks, 

 being laid of green wood, have warped, and require to be renewed. It 

 cost him One thousand dollars. Brazilians pay a tax of fifteen per cent, 

 on prime cost on foreign-built vessels. Foreigners not naturalized cannot 

 sail vessels in their own name upon the interior waters of the empire. 



It takes fifty-one days to go from Barra, at the mouth of the Negro, 

 to San Fernando, on the Oronoco. This is by ascending the Negro 

 above the mouth of the Cassiquiari, taking the carlo of Pimichim and 

 a portage of six hours to the head- waters of a small stream called 

 Atabapo, which empties into the Oronoco. A small boat may be 

 dragged over this portage in a day ; to go between the same places by 

 the Cassiquiari requires ten days more at the most favorable season, and 

 twenty when the Oronoco is full. 



From the journal of a voyage made by Antonii in the months of 

 April, May, and June, 1844, it appears that from Barra to Airao is five 

 days ; thence to the mouth of Rio Branco, four ; to Barcellos, three ; 

 to Moreira, three ; to Thomar, two ; to San Isabel, five ; to Rio Maraia, 

 three ; to Castanheiro, two ; to Masarabi, one ; to San Gabriel, six ; to 

 Santa Barbara, one ; to Sta. Ana, one ; to N. S. de Guia, one ; to Mabe, 

 one ; to Sta. Marcellina, one ; to Maribitano, one ; to Marcellera, one ; 

 to San Carlos, two ; to Tiriquim, one ; to Tomo, two ; to Marao, one ; 

 to Pimichim, one ; to Javita, one ; to Baltazar, one ; to San Fernando, 

 one. 



A few hours above Barcellos is the mouth of the river Quiuni, which 

 is known to run up to within a very short distance of the Japura ; 

 nearly opposite to San Isabel is the mouth of a river called Jurubashea, 

 which also runs up nearly to the Japura. Between these rivers is the 

 great Puxiri country ; it is covered with water when the rivers are full. 

 There is a vagabond tribe of Indians living in this country called Magu. 

 They use no canoes, and when they cannot travel on the land, for the 

 depth of water, they are said to make astonishing progress from tree to 



