2Ö2 
The Orchid oe Orchids. 
762. After getting over the Orotoko the isolated and many clefted 
Maceari Mountains once more came into view some two miles distant 
from the bank in the S.E. So far as I could make out in the distance 
their abrupt slopes which in some places rise perpendicularly are every- 
where covered with whitish masses of rock : trees and bushes were only 
to be noted here and there. Their western peak is exactly like a giant 
gable. They lie in 4° 32’ lat. N. Four miles farther south the rapids 
began afresh and extended between a real labyrinth of islands for a 
distance of 8 miles : there being a real superabundance of Lacis 
fluviatilis growing upon the crags, the Myletes Pacu had again collected 
in immense shoals. 
763. Having had whole series of mighty rocky battlements to 
contend with for some days past, we halted to-day after all our troubles 
and hardships at the foot of the Aelira-mucra Falls with their really 
sublime and imposing parapets and whirlpools, their eddying and 
blustering waterfalls. These huge granite and gneiss walls opposed 
the course of the stream for several miles: they were 10ft. in diameter 
and generally rose to a height of from 40 to 50 feet above the water level 
and amongst them were many that shone like black polished marble, and 
towards their summits were split into innumerable peaks. While in 
some places these boulders emerge from the violently disturbed waters 
like a petrified giant forest without any branches, in others again they 
are heaped up on top of one another in chaotic confusion and bedecked 
with Orchideae, TiUandsiae, Cactus, Clusiae, low bushes and stunted 
trees. I was especially struck with the beautiful Cyrtopodium 
Andcrsonii R. Brown, that I met here for the first time: its sedge-like 
leaves exactly resemble those of the young sugar cane, and the often 
foot-long yellow shiny flower-stalks made themselves already noticeable 
at a tolerable distance. Associated with it on some of the heaps of 
rock were also the really enchanting blossoms of Cattleyn su perlt a 
Schomb., the orchid of orchids, the flower-stalks of which often showed 
seven to eight opened flowers of a dazzling darb violet hue, as well as 
the equally interesing Huntleya violacea Lindl., and scarlet-red Epiden- 
drum Schombnrgkii Lindl. that garlanded the aged stones and stood 
out in startling contrast with their sombre massif. Aclira-mucra is 
without doubt one of the most interesting spots of the whole Essequibo. 
The rocky barrier extends inland on both sides from East North East 
to West South West. The drier we found the Essequibo below the 
Achra-mucra and later on above it, the more surprised were we at the 
depth of some of the channels between the immense clefts: this usually 
amounted to from 12 to 15 fathoms. The stream welters between the 
mightv parapets' and giant rubble-heaps in a wav enough Ip make one 
shudder, and it would be venture in vain to cross the falls were there 
not among the innumerable channels one that is quite free from hidden 
rock. While the corials were being hauled up it, I clambered over the 
crags that could be scaled and collected a number of interesting plants 
among which need onlv be mentioned Vitex ramtata Vahl.. V. n^hmsn 
Rw., Petrnrarva ramncsfns Willd., P. rorPiern Bentli., Leptolobiufth 
rtitens Vogel, and Spigclia Sch o m burgkian a Benth, 
