44 
which existed in reality ; suffice it to say, that after several 
vain attempts, he succeeded, by follov^^ing up the banks of the 
river, in reaching the f;;ot of the high hills from whence it 
proceeds. Throughout the whole distance the river receives 
no constant tributary, and its waters increase as they approach 
their source, which shows that a portion of them becomes 
absorbed in the lower part of the course of the river. 
The waters of the Ostuta were not measured, not only on 
account of the difficulty of doing so, but because they often 
vary in an extraordinary manner ; but it may venture to be 
asserted that they are never less than three times as copious 
as those of the Chicapa, and frequently more than six. 
The wild state of the country compelled Sr. Moro to cut his 
way through the woods when he could not take advantage of 
the pathways or tracks formed by the numerous tapirs which 
inhabit those regions. For this reason, and also on account of 
the ruffffed hills between which the river is imbedded, it was 
CD 
impossible to discover the adjacent grounds ; but the direction 
in which he had constantly proceeded, namely, towards the north 
and inclining afterwards to the west, as well as the distance he 
had gone, made him suppose that he was near the upper 
course of the Chicapa. He was not mistaken, for he perceived 
suddenly at a short distance to the west, the Cerro Atravesado, 
an eminence which he had reconnoitred before to its very 
summit. 
The elevated situation in which he was, and the proximity 
of the two rivers, seemed to promise that there would be no 
great difficulty in effecting their junction ; but the intervening 
woods, by concealing from view the topographical aspect of 
the ground, did not permit a fair estimate being formed of 
the difficulties there might be to encounter. 
The river came down precipitously from the mountains, and 
for a considerable distance had ceased to be fordable. It was 
every moment more and more difficult to ascend its course 
along the same bank, and at last it became evident that, in 
order to estimate correctly the obstacles vvhich might oppose 
themselves to the projected junction, nothing else remained 
but to reach, if possible, the very spot where he then was, by 
