30 
Botanical Reminiscences. 
cannot rank with the CordilleraS; as they do not consist of a 
connected chain, but of irregular groups, for the most part of 
bare mountains separated by plains and savannas. They 
surpass each other in fantastic rocky formations, their summits 
appearing in the form of pyramids or towers. Connected 
with these peculiar rocks, the active immagination of the 
Indians has its tradition ; I will mention one of these relating 
to the Murapa-yeng (Mountain of the Bat). 
A long, long time ago a gigantic bat inhabited the 
monstrous rocks, and spread fear and terror amongst the 
Macusis. As soon as the sun disappeared in the west the 
spectre-like monster left its haunts, hovered over their peaceful 
habitations (like the eagle would over the lair of a young doe) 
ready to precipitate itself on every one who appeared outside 
the huts, w^hen it would take hold of its victim with its talons, 
carry it to its unknown lurking place, and there devour it. 
Terror reigned in the evening in every village, and laxnenta- 
tion would fill the air in the morning when, often, several 
persons were missing, Not one night passed away without a 
victim being sacrificed, and the tribe diminished in number. 
The conjurors exorcised the spirit ; the warriors went to find 
the abode of the mischievous destroyer— it could not be found : 
the Great Spirit was not with them. 
There appeared, to prevent the annihilation of the tribe 
(who would not here be reminded of Marcus Curtins,) an old . 
woman who was willing to sacrifice her life for the welfare of 
the tribe. Night came on, the woman took her position in 
the middle of the village, and carried a covered- up firebrand. 
Trembling, the rest of the inhabitants were listening, when 
the noise of the wings of the bat were heard ; the heroine was 
seized by the talons of the monster, and carried towards the 
mountain. Now the woman uncovered her firebrand ; the air 
was lighted up by a long streak of fire, and showed the 
waiting people the direction where their brethren and sisters 
had been carried to. The column of fire of the burning nest 
marked the place, -to which the whole tribe moved next 
morning to kill the monster. The nest was on the top of 
the mountain, which, until this day, is called Mura23a-yeng 
(Mountain of the Bat). 
The tradition does not say whether the woman paid her 
herioc deed with her life; but to this day it is said by the 
Indians that bones of human beings are found there. The 
want of knowledge of the language prevented us to a great 
