184 
INDIAH ENCAMPMEKT. 
the summit of mountains gave birth, among the nations o 
the Orinoco, to the tradition of some great inundation 
which extinguished for a time the germs of organic liie 01 
our globe. The country that extends from the right bank 
of the Orinoco to the Cassiquiare and the Rio Negro, is . 
country of primitive rocks. I saw there one small formation 
of sandstone or conglomerate ; but no secondary limeston 
and no trace of petrifactions. , . llP 
A fresh north-cast breeze carried us full-sail towards tn 
Boca de la Tortuga. ¥e landed, at eleven m the morn- 
ing, on an island which the Indians of the Missions of Uni- 
ana considered as their property, and which lies in the 
middle of the river. This island is celebrated for the turtle 
fishery, or, as they say here, the cosecha , the harvest L 
eggs/T that takes place annually. We here found a 
assemblage of Indians, encamped under huts i made Ol 
palm-leaves. This encampment contamed more than three 
hundred persons. Accustomed, since we had lett 
-Fernando de Apure, to see only desert shores we were 
singularly struck by the bustle that prevailed here. W « 
found, besides the Guamos and the Ottomacs of TTruana, 
who are both considered as savage races, Canbs and otne 
Indians of the Lower Orinoco. Every tribe was separate! 
encamped, and was distinguished by the pigments with whica 
their skins were painted. Some white men were seen amids 
this tumultuous assemblage, chiefly pulperos, or little trader 
of Angostura, who had come up the river to purchase turw 
oil from the natives. The missionary of TJruana, a liati 
of Alcala, came to meet us, and he was extremely astomstw 
at seeing us. After having admired our instruments, 
crave us an exaggerated picture of the sufferings to wluC' 
we should be necessarily exposed in ascending the Ormot 
beyond the cataracts. The object of our journey appeal*, 
to* him very mysterious. “How is it possible to Relieve, 
said he, “that you have left your country, to come and v 
devoured by mosquitos on this river, and to measure lane 
that are not your own ? ” We were happily furnished w 1 
recommendations from the Superior of the Franciscan 
sions, and the brother-in-law of the governor of Varm 
who accompanied us, soon dissipated the doubts 10^ a 
our dress, our accent, and our arrival m this sandy 
