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each transverse dike, as upon the multitude of 

 counter-currents, the grouping of the islands 

 and shoals, that lie at the foot of the raudalitos 

 or partial cascades, and the contraction of the 

 channels, which often do not leave the naviga- 

 tion a free passage of twenty or thirty feet. 

 The eastern part of the cataract of Maypures 

 is much more dangerous than the western ; and 

 therefore the Indian pilots prefer the left bank 

 of the river, to conduct the boats down or up. 

 Unfortunately, in the season of low waters, this 

 bank remains partly dry, and recourse must be 

 had to the process of portage* ; that is, the boats 

 are obliged to be dragged on cylinders, or round 

 logs. We have already observed above, that 

 at the season of high waters in the Oroonoko, 

 but then only, the raudal of Maypures is easier 

 to pass than the raudal of Atures. 



To take in at one view the grand character 

 of these stupendous scenes, the spectator must 

 be stationed on the little mountain of Manimi, 

 a granitic ridge, that rises from the savannah, 

 north of the church of the mission, and is itself 

 only a continuation of the steps, of which the 

 raudalito of Manimi is composed. We often 

 visited this mountain, for we were never w^eary of 

 the view of this astonishing spectacle, concealed 

 in one of the most remote corners of the Earth. 



* Arastrar la Piragua. 



