OBIGIN OF THE NAME ORINOCO. 
41 
north-west, led Ordaz to the coast of Paria, where in the 
en'itory of the cacique Turipari (Uriapari, Viapari), Sedeiio 
had constructed the Casafmrte de Faria. This post being 
near the mouth of the Orinoco, the Mexican Couquis- 
^aor resolved to attempt an expedition on this great river, 
-tie sojourned first at Carao (Caroa, Carora), a large Indian 
"fiage, which appears to me to have been a little to the 
■^st of the confluence of the Carony ; he then went up the 
y^hruta (Cabuta, Cabritu), and to the mouth of the Meta 
fMetacuyu), where he found great diificidty in passing his 
boats through the Paudal of Cariven. The Aruacas, whom 
rdaz employed as guides advised him to go up the Meta ; 
^fiere, on advuncing towards the west, they asserted he 
would find meii clothed, aud gold in abundance. Ordaz 
pursued in preference the navigation of the Orinoco, but 
16 cataracts of Tab.ajo (perhaps even those of the Atures) 
compelled him to terminate his discoveries, 
t worthy of remark, that in this voyage, far anterior 
th « * Orellana, and consequently the greatest which 
®Pbwiards had then performed on a river of the New 
orld, the name of the Orinoco was for tlie first time 
eard. Ordaz, the leader of the expedition, affirms, that 
from its mouth as far as the confluence of tlie 
eta, is called XJriaparia, but that above this confluence it 
ears the name of Orinucu. This word (formed analo- 
with the words Tamanacu, Otomacu, Siuarucu) is, in 
g the Tamanac tongue ; and, as the Tamauacs dwell 
■do^ ol Eucaramada, it is natural that the conquista- 
np^*^***! actual name of the river only on drawing 
iir the Eio Meta.* On this Lost tributary stream Diego 
the following are the most ancient names of 
give *^nown to the natives near its mouth, and which historians 
altered t)y tlie double fault of pronunciation and orthograpliy; 
The Hurioparia, Urapari, Viapari) Rio de Paria, 
0)'i)iae« was disfigured by tlie Dutch pilots into 
and Otomacs say, Joga-apururn, (great river); the Cabres 
great w 7 Ba:agm Param, three words signifying 
the Gi ^ I'**® Orinoco between the Apure and 
‘trait denoted by tlie name of Baraguan. A famous 
doubt ‘ '''®. ^®''® described above, hears also this name, which is no 
‘ailed y®”’’.™!’!'®'’ ®f the word I’aragua. Great rivers in every zone are 
y the dwellers on tlieir banks ‘ the river,’ without any particular 
