GREAT iiitfiAimr OK THE R1VJSK. 
175 
waters, the aspect of the sky and the clouds, would lead 
experienced navigator to guess whether he were in the 
Atlantic, in the Mediterranean, or in the equinoctial part of 
tke Pacific. 
The wind blew fresh from east-north-east. Its direc- 
tion was favourable for sailing up the Orinoco, towards the 
Mission of Encaramada ; but our canoes were so ill calcu- 
bbed to resist the shocks of the waves, that, from the 
'lolence of the motion, those who suffered habitually at sea 
"'ere equally incommoded on the river. The short, broken 
Waves are caused by the conflict of the waters at the junc- 
tion. of the two rivers. This conflict is very violent, but far 
Tom being so dangerous as Father Gumilla describes. Wo 
Passed the Punta Curiquima, which is an isolated mass of 
MUartzose granite, a small promontory composed of rounded 
nocks. There, on the right hank of the Orinoco, Father 
dotella founded, in the time of the Jesuits, a Mission of 
. le Palenka and Viriviri or Gluire Indians. But during 
mundations, the rock Curiquima and the village at its fool 
"ere entirely surrounded by water ; and this serious incon- 
venience, together the sufferings of the missionaries and In- 
Q-'ana from the innumerable quantity of mosquitos and niguas,* 
e d them to forsake this humid spot. It is now entirely 
deserted, while opposite to it, on the right bank of the river, 
"de little mountains of Coruato are the retreat of wandering 
"dians, expelled either from the Missions, or from tribes 
hat are not subject to the government of the monks. 
Struck with the extreme breadth of the Orinoco, between 
le moutb of the Apure and the rock Curiquima, 1 ascer- 
a uied it by means of a base measured twice on the western 
®ach. The bed of the Orinoco, at low water, was 1906 
wi| 8es .broad; but this breadth increases to 5517 toises, 
of (?’ b 1 the rainy season, the rock Curiquima, and the farm 
Tapuehino near the hill of Pocopocori, become islands, 
o' le swelling of tbe Orinoco is augmented by the impulse of 
' e waters of the Apure, which, far from forming, like other 
it V fl rS ’ an acu to angle with the upper part of that into which 
ows, meets it at right angles. 
> * e first proceeded south-west, as far as the shore inhabited 
t( les ”? te chego ^Pulex penetrans), whicn penetrates under the nails of tk« 
■n men and monkeys, and there deposits its eggs. 
