CHAPTER iV. 
Expedition to the mouth of the Orinoco — Mouth of the Waini — aud- 
it, ink — -Mora—Barima — Warm us — Cumaka village and its environs — 
Commencement of the rainy season — First trip to the virgin forest — 
Chigoes — Bete rouge — Mouth of the Bunina and Orinoco — Return to 
Cumaka — Habits of the Sloth — Arawalc chief Caberalli — River 
Aruka — Amacura - — Religious Beliefs, Manners and Customs of the 
Warm us — Journey up the Barima — Flora and Fauna of the river 
basin — Akawais — First appearance of primitive rocks. 
27G. Thus the day of departure ever drew nearer and kept us all the 
more occupied as we still had many a thing to think of, and much to 
worry over that we had postponed to the very last moment. Wliilo 
my brother purchased what he wanted wholesale, 1 had to get mine re- 
tail when, like a prudent housekeeper, I never dared let out of my sight 
my working capital that had dwindled down to a minus quantity: — • 
and yet in tlds noisy excitement, in the continual dread of having for- 
gotten this or that, there was something at the same time so satisfactory 
and stimulating that it is still a pleasure to call to mind those days re- 
plete with petty worries, unnecessary doubts, and fallacious hopes. Rut 
it was all due to the fact of its being my first journey to the interior of 
a country that already in its civilised portion had opened quite a new 
world to me. 
277. xiie whole of the preparations were finally completed and all 
purchases effected. Cases and boxes filled with peas, rice, potatoes, 
coffee, sugar, and some .North American hams: others with guns, powder 
and shot, coloured print, and salempore (a blue light cloth), with knives 
01 all sizes, looking-glasses, beads of different colours, fish-hooks, combs, 
scissors, needles ana pins: barrels and kegs with North American salt- 
fish, pickled beef and pork, vinegar, rum and spirits as well as a few 
bottles of wine — everything was ready and waiting to be put on board 
the big schooner “Home” which had to take us to the mouth of the 
Waini or Guiania in the Atlantic Ocean. Owing to our lodgings up to 
ihe present being fairly distant from the landing-stage, the transport- 
ing did not progress as quickly as my impatience could have wished, 
until it came to an end with the last of the astronomical instruments. 
278. Morning of the 19th April broke on the w hole of our crew, 
now in their neat and clean broad white-linen trousers and jackets with 
red facings and red sashes, who were assembled in front of our house, 
the inside of which since the first streak of daylight had become the 
rendezvous of all our friends and acquaintances. There was plenty of 
joking and chaffing about the deeds of heroism that were promised and 
adventures already experienced in advance, while warnings were offered 
gratis as regards accidents to come. As a matter of fact, bets were 
made on the success or non-success of the Expedition or on the execution 
of this or that particular portion of it, for they could not resist their 
love of betting even where the future of their friends and associates was 
in question. 
