Harangued at Ariwaiyang. 
165 
396. Following the westerly course of the Muyang valley, iu which 
the river has its source, we soon came upon a thick) oasis, and then 
emerged again on open savannah. The sandstone range of the Humirida 
formed at a distance of 5 miles the nortlierly borders of the valley. The 
green plains, now and then interrupted by bright yellow bands of 
flowering Cassia poly si achy a, spread themselves thickly halfway up the 
mountain where they tapered off in the defiles intO' small streaks as far 
as the perpendicular sandstone wall. One of the most voluminous oases 
that we crossed consisted only of Palms and Musoccae, of whicli the 
latter, especially on account of the colour-enamel of their large flower- 
sheaths, spread a lovely fusion of tints over the dark green foliage. 
Among the former, and particularly noticeable owing to their 
extraordinary flourishing growth and frond-formation were the Iriartea 
e.Torrhim and /. ventricosa, Mariinezw cori/ofaefoJia Humb. Bonp., and 
several species of the dainty Goonoma. Ravenala and Phriiacospernvm 
appeared in the same perfection that had only been previously noticed in 
the valleys of the Tuarutu and Ossotschuni Ranges. Ferns, particularly 
those belonging to the genera A^diantum, Schi^aea, Aneinda, Mertensia, 
JTjfmr'.iiopJn/lJiim , Pol i/pofh')im and Arrosfirhinn. decked the ground and 
venerable trunks of the foliage trees. The ground shewed the same 
formation as the valleys of the Tniirutn and Ossotschuni Kanges. — a stiff 
clayey soil, mixed with sand. 
397. After travelling uphill in tlie luxuriant oasis for a long time, 
the path led into a deep ravine down which, witli echoing din, a small 
stream was excitedly bouncing in its hurry to join the ]\Iuyang. After 
long search we at last found a shallow spot enalding us to gei across, 
refreshed ourselves with the clear cool water that was 1 (ordered by a thick 
bank of Trichomanes sp., and then climbed the heiglit on the other side 
where, after a long walk in the forest, w^e readied an open rolling 
savannah which, with a gentle incline, sloped down-hill. West of 
us upon a small rising ground stood the houses that we liad been told of, 
and to which we traced our steps. South of the village Mt. Ariwaiyang 
rose above the thick forest. Not a human being was to be seen, and we 
already thought they were unoccupied when, upon entering the settle- 
ment, we saw a young man standing in front of one of the houses who 
greeted us with a long pathetic harangue, which commenced with "Hure 
Macusi (I am a Macusi) ." I had never before listened to such oratorical 
talent, to such a flow of language : even in the assemblies of the ancients 
I could pick out no one to contest his right to the bay-leaf of elo'quence. 
With the most flowery embellishments of speech he told us a]3proximately 
that what we wanted e.g., cassava liread, etc., he had not got, that he 
himself required maize, and that together with his family he had to feed 
on the forest fruits and could only drink water, like animals. His house 
where we could sling our hammocks, the neighbouring stream Muyang, 
from which we could draw T^'ater, was the one and all that he could offer 
us. He also siiAcerely trusted that we, on our journey to Eoraima, as well 
as ray brother from thence to the Cuyuui and Georgetown, and also the 
reraaininn; Paranaghieris on their return to Pirara, might never find 
another settlement where less should be offered us than what lay in his 
