331 



Maroa, is from to 200 to 250 toises. It is esti- 

 mated by M. de la Condamine, near the mouth 

 in the Amazon, in the narrowest part, at 

 1200 toises, an increase of 1000 toises on 

 10° of the length of it's course* in a di- 

 rect line. Notwithstanding the still considera- 

 ble volume of water, which we found between 

 Maroa and San Carlos, the Indians assert, that 

 the Guainia rises at five days of navigation 

 west-north-west of the mouth of the Pimichin, 

 in a mountainous country, which gives birth 

 to the sources of the Inirida. As you may go ' 

 up the Cassiquiare in ten or eleven days from 

 San Carlos to the point of the bifurcation of the 

 Oroonoko, five days' journey may be estimated, 

 as you ascend against a much less rapid current, 

 at a little more than 1° 20' of direct distance ; 

 which would place the sources of the Guainia, 

 according to my observations of the longitude 

 made at Javita and San Carlos, 71° 35' west of 

 the meridian of Paris. Notwithstanding the 

 perfect accordance which prevailed in the testi- 

 mony of the natives, I believe, that the sources 

 are still more to the west ; the boats being able 

 to go up only as far as the bed of the river per- 

 mits. We must not pronounce in too positive 

 a manner from the analogy of the rivers of 

 Europe on the proportion between the breadth 



* Reckoning the mean degree at 57,008 toises. 



