206 The Ever-Fruitful Mother of the Torrents. 
Mts. Yaruaramo [Yaniai uima] , Iriitipu, Carauriugtipu, of wMch tlie last 
raises its liead 4,943 ft. over the taljlelaud, complete this remarkable 
group. 
462. Innumerable water-falls rush in continual procession down from 
the flat summits, and the most brilliant description will always remain 
but a shadow to the truly imposing sublime Beality, with the thundering 
and foaming cataracts, with tlie wonderfully enchanting tropical vegeta- 
tion at their base. Tlie Cotinga flows with tumultuous rapidity from the 
eastera side of Roraima and carries its waters down to the greatest 
stream of all, the Amazon, by means of the Takutu, Rio Braneo and Rio 
Negro. The Cuyn [rucuya], a tributary of the Calco, which joining the 
Mazaruni, flows into the Essequibo, has scoured out its bod in the sand- 
stone precipice somewhat more to the northward of the Cotingn cltnunel. 
Some streams on the south-westerly side, amongst which the Kamaiba* 
is the most conspicuous, hasten on to the Kukenam. 
4r>.S. Tlie River Kukeuam itself streams out from Rornima's next 
door neighbour, and nfter its junction with the Yurunni forms the 
Caroni, a tributary of the Orinoco. But the Yuruaui. which the Indians 
take for the main stream of the rnroni, sallies down the northern side of 
Kukenam in innumerable rills and on the western wall of the valley picks 
up a number of other small rivnlots which bicker down the Avang-catsi- 
bang, Zarangtipu, aufl Irwarkaruinia and other smaller heights of the 
crroup. The Arnparu hurries Idindlv over the wall-like ramnart of 
Marima in many a small torrent while the Tako. ono of the la^'^-est tribu- 
taries of the upper l\ra:^amni, risos in +110 groun of hills ■^n fliol oastpru 
side of Trutipu. and the Tama rushes down its western side to Aoav into 
the Apanwauffa. a tributary of the Taroni. What immpuc^ bodies of 
water must be thunderinc: over these steep precipitous heichts ran be 
judged from the number of rivers arisinc on the platform, a cause for thp 
mountain crroup having been ric'htly described as the ''ever fruitful 
mother of the torrents." One might almost searcli in vain for such an 
interesting geognostic phenomenon anywhere else. I gazed in dumb 
amazement at the mass of mountain witb its sparkling 1 ands of Avater 
spreading itself out before me, until it became suddenly" enveloped in an 
envious veil of mist. The circumstance' of thick forests extending from 
its northern extremity to the Atlantic coast, while boundless savannahs 
spread along its southern side might without doubt be the chief reason 
for this constant humidity, as well as the rain and almost daily thunder- 
storms of these regions. 
4G4. We now quickly strode over the still intervening undulating 
ground intersected by a number of small tributaries of the Kukenam 
which were bordei'ed by a vegetation 'quite strange to me. In their close 
proximity the latter showed its usual tropical luxuriance and vigour : at 
a distance on the other hand, the clusters of bush were strikingly poor. 
With eyes continually directed on Roraima and taking but scanty notice 
of anything else in front and close by, we finally reached the base of the 
* Written Kamaiwa. [in C. dementi's "A Journey to Mt, Roraima, etc. " i Timeljr 
June,iyi7. 
