92 GUAIMARO. 



April 4. Rose at four o'clock, and em- 

 barking our beds, pushed on our way. At 

 nine o'clock we stopped at Guaimaro, hav- 

 ing only been able to gain four leagues 

 against the current of the river. In the 

 way shot several birds, and saw some gua- 

 cherracas, a species of pheasant which 

 is very good eating. Breakfasted at the 

 house of the Alcalde. Finding the wind 

 fair we sewed our blankets together to 

 make sails, landed and cut some poles to 

 serve as masts, rigged them, and soon 

 found ourselves sailing agreeably up the 

 river. These champans are not allowed 

 sails, as they are fiat-bottomed, and steer 

 with a paddle. They are generally formed 

 of the trunk of a single tree, having the 

 head and stern cut in a shelving direction. 

 They are fitted up in the same manner as 

 the canoe in which I came from Santa 

 Martha. I however think a sail may be 

 used with advantage, when the wind is 



