119 



CHAPTER XXI. 



Randal of Garciia. — Maypures. — Cataracts of 

 Quittuna. — Mouth of the Vichada and Zama. 

 — Rock of Aricagua. — Siquita. 



We went to rejoin our boat in the Puerto de 

 Arriba, above the cataract of Atures, opposite 

 the mouth of the Rio Cataniapo. In the nar- 

 row path, that leads to the embarcadero, we 

 beheld for the last time the peak of Uriana. It 

 appeared like a cloud rising above the horizon 

 of the plains. The Guahiboes wander at the 

 foot of the mountains, and extend their course 

 as far as the banks of the Vichada. We were 

 shown at a distance, on the right of the river, 

 the rocks that surround the cavern of Ataruipe; 

 but we had not time to visit that cemetery of 

 the destroyed tribe of the Atures. We regretted 

 this so much the more, as father Zea was never 

 weary of talking to us of the skeletons painted 

 with anotta, which this cavern contained; of 



