502 



groupe by a peculiar denomination ; and a chain 

 is generally considered as forming a whole, 

 only when it is discovered from afar bounding 

 the horizon of the plains. We find the names 

 of snowy mountains, repeated in every zone 

 (Himalaya, Imaus), white (Alpes, Alb), black 

 and blue. The greater part of the Sierra Pa- 

 rime is in some sort turned by the Oroonoko. 

 I have, however, avoided a denomination which 

 alludes to this circumstance, because the groupe 

 of mountains I have to make known, extends 

 far beyond the banks of the Oroonoko. It 

 stretches to the south-east, towards the banks 

 of the Rio Negro, and the Rio Branco, to the 

 parallel of Jl p of north latitude. The geogra- 

 phical name of the Pari me *, has the advantage 

 of recalling the fable of Dorado, and the lofty 

 mountains ^ which, from the sixteenth century, 

 were supposed to surround the lake Rupunu- 

 wini, or the Laguna de Parivie. The missiona- 

 ries of the Oroonoko still give the name of Pa- 

 rime to the whole of the vast mountainous 

 country comprehended between the sources of 

 the Erevato, the Oroonoko, the Caroni, the Rio 

 Parime %, (a tributary of the Rio Branco), and 



* Vol. v, p. 570 > 780, 790. 

 + Vol. v, p. 841. 

 } The Rio Parirne, after having received the waters of 

 the Uraricuero, joins the Tacuto, and forms near the fort of 



