Curious Rock Gravings. 
201 
garded by them as an outlet of the inmost strength of soul and spirit. 
Our persons, instruments, and tools were naturally objects of their ex- 
treme astonishment and wonder: beyond everything else, this was the 
case in regard to forks, and as soon as they saw us using them at table, 
they burst into loud mocking laughter, shook their heads sarcastically, 
and showed us their fingers which they seemed to consider the most 
unrivalled articles in comparison. However great the hopes we had, set 
upon the supplies expected from them, we nevertheless found ourselves 
much disappointed, and were accordingly obliged to leave for Koraima 
as quickly as possible. 
455. Accompanied by some twenty Indians we made a start on 17th 
Xovemlter at daybreak in tlic liest of spirits in open-mouthed expectation 
of what the next few days would bring us, never for a moment dreaming 
that even tlie very first one was to be so sadly embittered. Ti-ossing at 
the outset an oasis of glorious ClKfiia, Slfi/rax and Lauiiis: trees that 
extended to the western border of the Kukenam, we met an open rolling 
]ilain: we continued to traverse this all the time along the right bank 
of the river which here formed a, large picturesque waterfall of several 
cascades that gave rise to a thunderous noise . Ahead of us to the north- 
ward above a piece of rising ground, that had pushed Itself in the way 
and obstructed the view of the real base of Roraima, were to be seen the 
giant ramparts l)oth of this mountain and of Kukenam which, l>eing 
free of all mist to-day. were glittering in the morning sun, wMle out of 
tlie north-west the Murre shot into the Kukenam over a mighty sandstone 
wall above which a beautiful Leffuminosa bent itself in full bloom. Be- 
fore crossing tlie Murre, the Indians drew our attention to a large sand- 
stone boulder with picture-writing, on the upper surface of which we 
noticed several curved lines about 1/8 in. deep, that looked exactly as if 
some one had drawn lioth his hands in a curve over the stone, and left 
the im]n'ession l)ehind. "While Makunaima still wandered on the earth," 
he came over here and left this for the generations following him as a 
sign of his presence." When I asked one of our guides from Pirara who 
this Makunaima really was, he answered ^iithout hesitation "Jesus 
rhrist." 
450. Once on the other aide of the Murre we took a more north- 
westerly course over an undulating savannah and soon came to another 
little stream about 10 ft. broad that was also hurrying to the Kukenam 
and crossed our path. In the middle of its bed lay a large block of sand- 
stone Avliich had already served as a stepping-stone to those ahead in 
the file of Indians who, springing on to it from this hank, jumped from 
off it onto the opposite one, a manoeuvre whicli all those following re- 
peated . I was sixteenth in the row, and immediately liehind me was Kate, 
the young buckeen Avho, as mentioned (Sec. 290), had been married to her 
husiiand shortly before her departure from Tirara. and who on account 
of her bright, friendly and merry ways, qualities A\diich one only very 
rarely finds among Guiana's fairer sex, had obtained permission to keep 
her husband company. She was the pet of the whole party. As I was 
making my way to the stream, some ^rJnilfr.sia bordering its edge 
attracted my attention, and to make sure whether they had already been 
