756 



delta is in the northern branch of the bifurcated 

 river, this part of the Oroonoko is highly im- 

 portant for the military defence of the country. 

 All the channels # , that terminate in the bocas 

 chicas, rise from^the same point of the trunk of 

 the Oroonoko. The branch (Cano Manama) that 

 separates from it near the village of San Rafael 

 has no ramification till after a course of three or 

 four leagues ; and by placing a small fort above 

 the island of Chaguanes, Angostura might be 

 defended against an enemy, that should attempt 

 to penetrate by one of the bocas chicas. In my 

 time the station of the gunboats was east of San 

 Rafael, near the northern bank of the Oroonoko. 

 This is the pointy which vessels must pass in 

 sailing up toward Angostura by the northern 

 channel, that of San Rafael, which is the broad- 

 est but the most shallow. 



Six leagues above the point where fhe Oroo- 

 noko sends off a branch to the bocas chicas, is 



* Canno de Manamo grande, C. de Manama chico, C. Pedernales, 

 C. Macareo, C. Cutupiti, C. Macuona, C. grande de Mariusas, 

 &c. The last three branches form by their union the sinuous 

 channel called the Vueita del Torno. Though the labyrinth o^ 

 these small branches appears to be subject to frequent changes, 

 it is not less certain, that an accurate plan might be taken of 

 the great branches of the Delta of the Oroonoko. This la- 

 bour would no doubt be long ; but by rectifying from time to 

 time the soundings marked on it, it would become a great help 

 to the navigation. 



+ Barancas, near the island of Yaya. 



