23 
Schomburgk^ Dr. Phil. 
The researches of the most eminent traveller of our age — 
the late celebrated Humboldt— proved, by deep reasoning, 
founded either upon personal experience, or upon inspection 
of every document of this fabulous Lake Parima, that it no 
longer existed ; and with its erasure from our maps, vanished 
the last vestiges of the extraordinary illusion. 
The errors of geographers respecting a great interior lake 
having been corrected and explained by Humboldt’s able pen, 
the long entertained and pleasing idea of a surrounding 
country rich in gold, has been abandoned in our enlightened 
times ; yet such is the charm of these illusions, over which 
the description of Sir Walter Raleigh has spread so romantic 
a hue, that, although we are now aware the tale is exaggerated, 
we read it v/ith interest. 
The Lake Amucu, east and west for about three miles, 
at the period of the dry season, when little rain falls, was 
covered with rushes, only here and there presenting patches 
of water. It is, however, a large inland sea when, during the 
tropical winter, the rivers overflow their banks — whence 
originated the myth of the El Dorado. Three islets rise 
from the middle of the lake, and the Pirara flows through it. 
The lake is called Amucu, the group of islands the Islas 
Ipomucena, described by Santos— names so closely associated 
with the phantom of El Dorado and the Laguna de Parima. 
The absorbing interest of the landscape before me travellers 
can alone conceive, who tread terra incognita^ connected with 
such associations. 
After a few weeks’ stay in Pirara the expedition prepared 
for the journey to that remarkable mountain group Roraima, 
in 5° 9' N. latitude, 61° 48' W. longitude. 
The morning of the 10th September found us in great 
activity. The village itself looked very much like a disturbed 
ant-hill. Old and young were assembled in front of our huts, 
for the Indians accompanying us had to take leave of their 
wives and children. Although the baggage had been dis- 
tributed amongst the carriers the day before, many alterations 
had to be made in the package of it for the more convenient 
carrying. 
Already in the afternoon of the day preceding, the village 
appeared more lively, the women had to prepare delicacies for 
their journeying husbands, and had to arrange their toilet 
articles — such as paint boxes, combs, looking-glasses, the 
drinking cups, tobacco, and some of the paper-like bark of 
