724 



tastrophes which our planet has undergone. It is 

 proper to examine, whether between the bifur- 

 cated branches of a river the mud do not repose 

 upon a stratum of pebbles, which are found far 

 from running waters. The greatest separation 

 of the branches of the Oroonoko is forty-seven 

 nautical leagues. This is the breadth of the 

 oceanic delta between Punta Barima and the 

 westernmost of the bocas chicas. An exact sur- 

 vey of those countries being hitherto wanting, 

 the number of the mouths is not known. A 

 vulgar tradition gives seven to the Oroonoko, and 

 reminds us of the sept em ostia Nili, so celebrat- 

 ed in antiquity. But the delta of Egypt was not 

 always confined to this number; and eleven con- 

 siderable mouths at least may be counted on the 

 inundated coast of Guyana*. After the Boca de 



* Boca de Navios ; B. de Lauran (Loran, Laurent); B. 

 de Nuina, two or three leagues west of the Isla Cangrejos, 

 and two or three fathoms deep; J5. chica de Mariusas, five 

 leagues farther, little known ; B. de Vinquinia ; B. grande 

 de Mariusas, very navigable ; B. de Macareo (the cano of this 

 name admits large vessels as far as San Rafael, where it 

 issues from the principal trunk) ; B. de Cucuina, narrower, 

 but deeper; B. de Pedernales, navigable; B. de Manama 

 grande, near the islands of Plata and Pesquero , B. de Gua- 

 nipa. From boca de Nuina to boca de Manamo grande, 

 the partial distances were indicated to me at five, seven, 

 eight, six, four, eight, and seven leagues. The synony- 

 my of these branches of the Oroonoko is somewhat em- 

 barrassing. Is not the B. de Capure, between Pedernales 



