687 



distance of three leagues above the Ciudad de 

 la Piedra, to take altitudes of the Sun. The 

 longitude of this point is 67° 26' 2G", or 1° 41' 

 east of the mouth of the Apure. Farther on, 

 between the towns of la Piedra and Muitaco, or 

 Real Corona, occur the Torno and the Mouth of 

 Hell, two obstacles, which were formerly dreaded 

 by voyagers. The Oroonoko suddenly changes 

 it's direction ; it flows first to the east, then to 

 the north-north-west, and then again to the east. 

 A little above the Canno Marapiche, which opens 

 on the northern bank, a very long island divides 

 the river into two branches. We passed on the 

 south of this island without difficulty; toward 

 the north a chain of small rocks, half covered 

 when the water is high, forms whirlpools and 

 rapids. This is what is called la Boca del In- 

 Jierno, and the Randal de Camiseta. The first 

 expedition of Diego de Ordaz (1531) and 

 Alonso de Herera (1535) have given celebrity to 

 this bar. The Great Cataracts of the Atures 

 and Maypures were then unknown ; and the 

 clumsy vessels (vergantines), in which travellers 

 persisted in going up the river, rendered the 

 passage through the rapids extremely difficult. 

 At present no apprehension is felt in ascending 

 or descending the Oroonoko, at any season, from 

 it's mouth as far as the confluence of the Apure 

 and the Meta. The only falls of water in this 

 space are those of Torno or Camiseta, Marimara^ 



