625 



Guyana we can go back only to the period > 

 when the Castilian and Portugueze conquerors, 

 and more recently peaceful monks, penetrated 

 amid so many barbarous nations. 



It appears, that, to the north of the Cataracts, 

 in the strait of Baraguan, there are caverns 

 filled with bones, similar to those which I have 

 just described*: but I was informed of this fact 

 only after my return ; our Indian pilots did not 

 mention it, when we landed at the strait. These 

 tombs no doubt have given rise to a fable of the 

 Otomacs, according to which the granitic and 

 solitary rocks of Baraguan, the forms of which 

 are very singular, are regarded as the grand- 

 fathers, the ancient chiefs of the tribe. The cus- 

 tom of separating the flesh from the bones, very 

 anciently practised by the Massagetes, is still 

 known among several hordes of the Oroo- 

 noko. It is even asserted, and with some pro- 

 bability, that the Guaraons plunge their dead 

 bodies under water enveloped in nets ; and, that 

 the small carihe fishes -f-, the serra-salmes, of 

 which we saw every where an innumerable 

 quantity, devour in a few days the muscular 

 flesh, and thus prepare the skeleton. It may be 

 supposed, that this operation can be practised 

 only in places where crocodiles are not common. 



* Gumilla, vol. i, p. 127. Gili, vol. ii, p. 107. 

 t See vol. iv, p. 443. 

 VOL, V. 2 s 



