102 
The Lower Barima. 
the former's further determinations that a definite point in the interior 
should now he fixed so that future observations could be connected up 
with it. The rest of the time available was taken advantage of by my 
brother in looking up the course of the Aruka, for which purpose one of 
t lie Cumaka residents who understood a little English rendered him 
yeoman service. Unfortunately lie never succeeded in obtaining an 
accurate astronomical observation although he generally kept awake 
throughout the night so as to utilise every star as it should become visi- 
ble through a rift in the darkened clouds. 
348. The weather showing such a change, and our patients being so 
much improved that we could safely risk taxing their weakened powers 
again, my brother, in order to help them, hired another six Warraus 
under the lead of the chief's son. We all set out with them for the 
mouth of the Barima, to examine accurately this portion of the stream 
also. 
349. As the whole personnel of the expedition suffered from general 
weakness, we took only the most necessary articles, everything else being 
well packed and left behind at Cumaka. 
350. The Barima was soon reached again, and we now followed it 
towards its mouth. Immediately below the opening of the Aruka its 
banks take on an essentially different character, for they again become 
marshy and swampy and are so much exposed to tidal influences that 
we could not even find the smallest spot that afforded a firm footing: 
the farther we pushed along, the more did the vegetation along the 
banks approach that of the nearest stretch of coast-line, the Rhizophora 
and Aricennia already predominating. 
351. To make this portion of the river basin suitable for cultiva- 
tion, the huge sums that were required for bringing that of the Dein- 
erara under similar conditions would certainly have to be doubled. With 
every stroke of the paddle the previous flourishing growth of vegeta- 
tion became poorer and scantier as the water got more and more salty 
till it finally resolved itself into nothing but Rliizophora and Avicennia, 
above which pretty clusters of Euterpe oleracea , Lcopoldinia, Maw- 
earia and MaximiHana towered in isolated spots. 
352. The force with which the washing tide flowed up the Barima 
made us look for a sheltered place and wait there until the commence- 
ment of the ebb. This interruption of the journey that had hitherto 
kept us continually on the move was rendered extremely painful owing 
to our cramped and inconvenient position seated in the small corials, 
as well as to the huge swarms of mosquitoes that mercilessly thirsted 
for our blood. Sleep was not to be thought of for a moment owing to 
these tormentors, and amidst general rejoicing we welcomed the 
receding waters at about 8 o'clock when we resumed our voyage. 
353. By oncoming dusk the sky was already lighted up by thous- 
ands of shining insects, amongst which the phosphorescence of Pyrop- 
Jiorus pellucidus Esch. was particularly noticeable: the deepest silence 
spread itself over our surroundings. Xight soon enveloped everything 
in its dark veil, but here and there the chirping of the crickets and the 
croaking of the frogs showed that the world it hid was not at rest. 
These, together with the soft buzzing of mosquitoes and other invisible 
