70 
Botanical Reminiscences, 
species. The young pink leaves which with their half red, 
half white, flowers, the yellow fragrant flowers of the root 
parasite Loranthm Tagua, Humb. Bonp., the most brilliant 
of the Melastomas, as also the elegant trees of the Tabehouia 
triphylla, Dec., covered with large flowers and tree-ferns in 
fantastic confusion, entwined by a number of creepers, formed 
a dense enclosure. Looking up to the gigantic sandstone 
wall of the height of 1,500 feet, and the waterfalls which 
rushed from its platform, I felt small and insignificant in 
comparison with these imposing masses; and I will not 
venture to describe, as my pen would not be equal to the 
task, the impression and the feeling invoked in me by such a 
sight. There were so many new objects presenting themselves 
to my eyes that at last I was unable to give my attention to 
one and the same plant for even a single minute.^ My feelings 
had, in fact, overcome me, but my heart was jubilant with 
rapture and delight. All the troubles we had gone through 
were forgotten ; even the future, with its fears, yielded to the 
overhappy present. Without gathering a single flower I 
hurried to my companions, who were busy pitching the tents 
near this little El Dorado, between large rocks, covered 
with mosses and ferns. We were going to stay until the 
trigonometrical measurement had been executed — a period of 
three or four days. 
Our camp was 6,000 feet above the level of the sea, in 
5° 9' northern latitude, and GO"" 57' western longitude ; the 
height to the summit of the Roraima from our camp was, 
according to our trigonometrical measurement, 2,000 feet. 
The meteorological instruments, for the observations to be 
taken, had been fixed, and except the rather disagree- 
able cold, we felt neither any pressure on the chest nor any 
difl&culty in breathing. The horribly troublesome mosquitoes 
and sandflies of the plains had disappeared here. 
A view of the plains was denied us as yet ; a thick rnist 
covering it from our sight when we reached our camping 
place. 
After having pitched our tents and arranged other matters, 
the poor Indians, without any covering, built small huts from 
the fronds of the fern trees, between the rocks, and imme- 
diately lighting large fires, they were seen cowering round or 
sitting in their hammocks, which were slung, their feet as 
nearly as possible towards the fire. 
About 7 o’clock p.m. the mist changed to rain, which came 
