The Platform of Cara-ütta. 
275 
643. On the 21st December they stepped on the watersEed of tKe 
Cnyuni. The Cori was the first river to turn northwards to the Wenamu, 
They found themselves some 2,700 ft. above sea-level. The dividing 
water-shed did not run along the highest ridges, but more along the 
northern slopes while the tributaries of the Mazaruni which have their 
origin on the same northern declivity at first turn easterly and only 
later bend in a southerly direction, to hurry on their way to the 
Paruima. 
644, On the morning of 22nd December, the way led once more up- 
hill. The l)road moiintain-ridge was covered witli low brush wood, moss, 
and white lichen (Cladonia rancflferina) . ^Ariim and other genera 
belonging to the Aroiclcar anrl ferns, especially Pol i/ podia era r formed the 
chief vegetation. Amongst the orchids that flourished in amongst them 
my brother was particularly struck by an unknowni specimen with huge 
flower-stalks that bore at least 40 to itO l»los«oms. The beautiful 
Maurit'w acvlmia also appeared to be thi4ving well at this height of more 
than 8,000 feet above the sea. 
64,5. The higher they climbed, the rockier became the slopes and 
scantier tlie vegetation, A\ I)icli on the massive sandstone plateaux assumed 
an almost alpine appearance, ^inmiber of rounded, off pieces of quartz 
were imbedded in the sandstone : my brother also found several six-sided 
crystals. 'As they reached the highest ridge between huge blocks of 
sandstone, the chief, beckoning my brother to follow, led him to a giant 
crag, with a sort of platform on its top, up which they scrambled, followed 
by all the Tnd'ians, whence they saw one of the most magnificent 
panoramas spread out below: even their companions, who for the first 
time trod upon this spot, gave way to a loud cry of astonishment. Steep 
u'iOuntnins. amonc wbicb r*al>'riraim)o ^\•;^s pspeciallv lir-omSnent, ro»" 
towards the N'orth with the Wenamu meanderinc: along its base until 
received by the Cnyuni, a certain preeipitous cliff being pointed out to 
him as the sitnation of its moutli". Tbp vnn«Tp nnnn wbicb thpr stood 
stretched along to the West, while to the ^Southward they took in at a 
o-lance the steep mountain-massif thev had already noticed the day 
before, and which the Indians called Kauru-tipu, while far far away irf 
the distance they eould see Mt. Trutipu enveloped in dense masses of 
cloud. The high mountains of the IMazaruni limited the horizon to the 
Eastward, while at their feet there yawned an abrnpt abyss on the 
farther side of which there waved an ocean of green, the tops of densely 
growing trees, down upon which they gazed. Tn the meanwhile a strange 
sight was developing itself around my brother on this platform of Tara- 
utta. The Indians who had never visited the spot before gave them- 
selves up to the wildest orgies. Several calabashes with paiwari stood 
upon the rocks in front of which two old A'rekunas squatted with faces 
turned to the North, at the same time mumbling unintelligible words 
while the equally old medicine-man rubbed powdered capsicum into the 
eyes of each of the novices. As soon as the first pains were 
over, they brought some twigs from the nearest scrub and 
lashed one another on the legs and feet until the blood flowed. The 
yelling of the children, the growling of the men, whose rage for 
R2. 
