A Quadrangle of Four Mountains. 
205 
first journey, I came across the same mountain massif betweert the 4th 
and 5th parallels of latitude, and between the Gith and (»Oth meridians, 
and convinced myself finally that not only Marawaea, but Duida also, 
belonged to the same formation. Tlie direction of its greater axis runs 
consequently for the first two degrees of latitude with the meridian and 
then runs 350 miles towards W.S.W. It is an interesting fact that these 
remarkable mountains which towards their summits consist of wall-like 
precipices fi*om 1,400 to 1,500 ft. liigh exactly fix the watershed between 
the rivers which flow N. to the Orinoco, S. to the Amazon, and E. to the 
Essequibo. Tin's is the case -with Roraima, the mountains of the Paca- 
raima, as well as Mts. Merewari and Tapiraperu: even Mt. Vindaua, 
in the neighbourhood of the culminating point of the small mountain- 
range, which cuts through the first and second parallels, consists of sand- 
stone and forins the watershed of the Takutu which finally streams into 
the Amazon, and into the western tributaries of the Essequibo. Vindaua, 
so far as is known, is the most southerly of the wall-like sandstone moun- 
tains. Metamorphic rocks, e.g., jasper exactly corresponding with the 
Siberian, and i-ock crystal, are found in its envirous." 
400. T consider it necessary to introduce these short geognostic notes 
before passing on to the description of the most peculiar members of the 
group, "Roraima and the rest. The range is formed, as stated above, of 
an immense sandstone chain whVh consists far rather of isolated ele- 
vated and disconnected heiuhts than of a single blended massif: Roraima. 
Kukenam, Avang-catsibanc and "Manma foi-m almost a quadrilateral 
figure of which Roraima, the eastern side, is not only the highest but 
also at the same time the most easterlv point. Their greatest extent 
between Roraima and the western end of the Trutipu amounts to 25 miles. 
The easteim extremity of Roraima lies in 5° 9' 40" lat. N. and 60° 57' long. 
W., rises 5,100 ft. over the tableland and S.OOO ft. above sea-level. The 
very top consists of bare, iu some i^laces 1.500 ft. high apparentlv per- 
pendicular crags of sandstone to wdiich formation the base also belongs, 
and for the benefit of the reader I cannot sketch any more speaking like- 
ness of these extraordinary shapes than refer him to their miniature 
replicas in the Kcinigstein and Lilienstein of Saxon Switzerland. 
461. North-west of Roraima. Kukenam rises with a similar rampart- 
like summit running out in spurs, and so also does the Ayang- catsibang: 
Marima is on the north. The quadrangle formed liy these four mountains 
occupies from S.E. to N.W. a superficial area of 10 geographical miles. 
The eastern extremity of Roraima has a striking resemblance to a huge 
gate-way. The N.W. portion of Ayang-catsibang lies in 5° 18' lat. N. 
Two miles N.W. of it another sandstone height, the Irwarkaruima rises 
to a height of 8,600 feet above the tableland. On its eastern 
slope lies a huge somewhat urn-shaped sandstone boulder 466 ft. 
high, at its widest part 381 ft. in circumference, standing as 
it were upon a pedestal 3,135 ft. high. Closely connected with 
it is the Wayaka-piapa, the "felled tree," which, according to 
Indian tradition, the good spirit Makunaima cut down on his journey 
overland and changed into stone to leave behind as a memento of his 
wanderings among the human race : it very much resembles an obelisk. 
