CUNA INDIANS. 



453 



meridian, about two feet above the level of the 

 water; but when the river rises it is entirely 

 overflown, leaving the tops of the trees only 

 in sight ; and this kind of country, or rather 

 lagoon, extends for hundreds of miles in every 

 direction. 



March 18th. It calmed a little during the 

 night. Passing down the river we saw the 

 high land inhabited by the Cuna Indians, of 

 whom the boatmen were formerly much afraid, 

 as they frequently waylaid them, and putting 

 all the crew to death by a flight of arrows, cap- 

 tured the vessels, and carried off* the booty. 

 Now, however, they have made an amicable 

 treaty, and boats have for some time passed 

 without molestation. 



March 19th. At daylight got the masts up, 

 and prepared every thing for sea. About noon 

 passed down to the mouth of the river called 

 Barbacoa, which is one of the nine mouths be- 

 longing to the Atrato, and deemed the best, 

 its general depth of water being four feet. 

 The main mouth, called La Candeleria, is the 

 deepest; but as there are several bad sand- 

 banks in it, Barbacoa is preferred. At the en- 

 trance we were compelled to stop, as the wind 



