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sand three hundred and sixty toises in length, 

 according to the spot where it was commenced, 

 either near the mouths of the two little rivers, 

 or nearer their sources. The general slope of the 

 ground appears to have an inclination of six or 

 seven toises, from S.S.E. to N.N.W., and the 

 soil of the valley of Keri is entirely flat, with 

 the exception of a small ridge, or Ugne de faite, 

 in the parallel of the church of Maypures, 

 which separates the two tributary streams so 

 that they take different courses. The execution 

 of this project would cost but little, the isth- 

 mus consisting for the most part of alluvial 

 earth. The employment of gunpowder would 

 be altogether unnecessary. This canal, which 

 ought not to exceed ten feet in breadth, might 

 be regarded as a navigable arm of the Oroono- 

 ko. It would not require the construction of 

 sluices, and the boats going to the Upper Oroo- 

 noko would no longer be damaged, as they now 

 are, by friction against the rugged rocks of the 

 raudal. They would be tracked up ; and as it 

 would not be necessary to unload the merchan- 

 dize, a considerable loss of time would be avoid- 

 ed. It has been inquired, what would be the 

 use of the canal I have proposed ? The follow- 

 ing is the answer I gave to the ministry in 1801, 

 at the time of my journey to Quito. " I have 

 suggested the construction of the canal of May- 

 pures, and of another of which I shall speak 



