469 



the Oroonpko and of the Rio Paruspa. On pe- 

 netrating beyond the great cataracts of Atures 

 and of Maypures, we shall see seven principal 

 links, those of Encaramada or Sacuina, of Cha- 

 viripa, of Baraguan, of Carichana, of Uniama, 

 of Calitamini, and of Sipapo, successively appear* 

 This sketch may serve to give a general idea of 

 the geological constitution of the ground. We 

 recognize every where on the globe a tendency 

 toward regular forms in those mountains, that 

 appear the most irregularly grouped. Every 

 link appears, in a transverse section, like a dis- 

 tinct summit, to those who navigate the Oroo- 

 noko ; but this division is merely in appearance. 

 The regularity in the direction and separation 

 of the links seems to diminish in proportion as 

 we advance toward the East. The mountains 

 of Encaramada join those of Mato, which give 

 birth to the Rio Asiveru or Cuchivero ; those of 

 Chaviripe are prolonged by the granitic moun- 

 tains of Corosal, of Amoco, and of Murcielago, 

 toward the sources of the Erevato and the Ven- 

 tuari. 



It was across these mountains, which are in- 

 habited by Indians of a gentle character, and 

 addicted to agriculture*, that, at the time of the 



* The MaypojeSj Parecas, Javaranas, and Curacicanas, who 

 possess fine plantations, conucos, in the savannahs, by which 

 these forests are bounded. 



