359 



at a double communication between the Cassi- 

 quiare and the Rio Negro, when we recollect, 

 that so many rivers of America form a species of 

 deltas at their confluence with other rivers. 

 Thus the Rio Branco and the Rio Jupura enter 

 by a great number of branches into the Rio 

 Negro and the Amazon. At the confluence of 

 the Jupura there is a much more extraordinary- 

 phenomenon. Before this river joins the Ama- 

 zon, the latter, which is the principal recipient, 

 sends off three branches called Uaranapu, Man- 

 hama, and Avateparana, to the Jupura, which is 

 but a tributary stream. The Portugueze astro- 

 nomer, Mr. Ribeiro, has proved this important 

 fact*. The Amazon gives waters to the Jupura 

 itself, before it receives this tributary stream. 



The Rio Conorichiteor Itinivini served power- 

 fully heretofore, to facilitate the trade in slaves 

 carried on by the Portugueze in the Spanish 

 territory. The slave traders went up by the 

 Cassiquiare and the Canno Mee to Conorichite; 

 and thence dragged their canoes by a portage to 

 the rochelas of Manuteso, in order to enter the 

 Atabapo. I have marked this road in my 

 itinerary map of the Oroonoko. This abomina- 



* There are great changes to be made in our maps relatively 

 to the eight pretended branches of the Jupura. Compare 

 Southey's History of Brazil, p. 595, and the Corogr. Bras., 

 p. 285. , 



