633 



descend, in order to make the circuit of the 

 island, had become impassable, on account of 

 the little depth of the water. The pilot sought 

 a long while for a more accessible passage in 

 this labyrinth of rocks and islands. Happily 

 our canoe was not damaged, and in less than 

 half an hour our instruments, provision, and 

 animals, were embarked. 



We navigated part of the night, to pitch our 

 tent again in the island of Panumana. We re- 

 cognized with pleasure the spots, where we had 

 herbalized when going up the Oroonoko. We 

 examined once more on the beach of Guachaco 

 that small formation of sand stone, which re- 

 poses directly on granite. It's position is the 

 same as that of the sandstone, which my unfor- 

 tunate countryman, Mr. Burckhardt, observed 

 at the entrance of Nubia, superimposed on the 

 granite of Syene. We passed, without visiting 

 it, the new mission of San Borga, where (as we 

 learned with much regret a few days after) the 

 little colony of Guahiboes had fled al monte, 

 from the chimerical fear, that we should carry 

 them off, to sell them as poitos, or slaves *. 

 After having passed the rapids of Tabaje, and 

 the Raudal of Cariven, near the mouth of the 

 great Rio Meta, we arrived without accident at 

 Carichana. The missionary ^ received us with 



* See vol. iv, cliap. 19, p. 571. 

 + Fray Jose Antonio cte Torre* 



