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inhabited by men, or much frequented by boats. 

 It is a timid and mistrustful animal, that raises 

 it's head above the water, and hides itself at the 

 least noise. The shores, where almost all the 

 turtles of the Oroonoko appear to assemble an- 

 nually, are situate between the junction of the 

 Oroonoko with the Apure, and the great cata- 

 racts, or Raudales ; that is to say, between Ca- 

 bruta and the mission of Atures. There are 

 found the three famous fisheries ; those of Enca- 

 ramada, or Boca del Cabullare; of Cucuruparu, 

 or Boca de la Tortuga ; and of Pararuma, a little 

 below Carichana. It seems, that the arrau does 

 not pass beyond the cataracts ; and we were 

 assured, that only the turtles called terekay* 

 are found above Atures and Maypures. This is 

 the place to say a few words on the difference 

 between these two species, and on their connec- 

 tion with the various families of the chelonian 

 order. 



We shall begin with the arrau, which the 

 Spaniards of the missions call simply tortuga, 

 and the existence of which is of so great impor- 

 tance to the nations on the Lower Oroonoko. 

 It is a large fresh-water tortoise, with palmate 



means a crocodile among the Tamanacks, neighbours of the 

 Maypures. The Otomacks call the turtle of Uruana, achea ; 

 the Tamanacks, peje. 

 * In Spanish terecayas. 



