186 
BTEFEttEVT SPECIES O t TORTOISES. 
monkish legends,” said the pulpero of Angostura, in a low 
reice ; for the only travellers in this country being the 
missionaries, they here call ‘ monks’ stories,’ what we call 
‘ travellers’ tales,’ in Europe. 
The Indians assured us that, in going up the Orinoco 
from its mouth to its junction with the Apure, not one island 
or one beach is to bo found, where eggs can be collected in 
abundance. The great turtle (arrm)* dreads places inha- 
bited by men, or much frequented by boats. It is a timid 
and mistrustful animal, raising only its head above the 
water, and hiding itself at the least noise. The shores where 
almost all the turtles of the Orinoco appear to assemble 
annually, are situated between the junction of the Ori- 
noco with the Apure, and the great cataracts ; that is to 
say, between Cabruta and the Mission of Atures. There 
are found the three famous fisheries ; those of Encaramada. 
or Boca del Cabullare ; of Cucuruparu, or Boca de la Tor- 
tuga ; and of Pararuma, a little below Carickana. It seems 
that the arrrnt does not pass beyond the cataracts ; and we 
were assured, that only the turtles called terekay, (in Spanish 
terecayas ,) are found above Atures and Maypures. 
The arrau, called by the Spaniards of the Missions simply 
tortuya, is an animal whose existence is of great importance 
to the nations on the Lower Orinoco. It is a large fresh- 
water tortoise, with palmate and membraneous feet; the 
head very flat, with two fleshy and acutely-pointed append- 
ages under the chin ; live claws to the lore feet, and four to 
the hind feet, which are furrowed underneath. The upper 
shell has five central, eight lateral, and twenty-four marginal 
plates. The colour is darkish grey above, and orange 
beneath. The feet are yellow, and very long. There is a 
deep furrow between the eyes. The claws are very strong 
and crooked. The anus is placed at the distance of one-fifth 
from the extremity of the tail. The full-grown animal 
weighs from forty to fifty pounds. Its eggs are much larger 
than those of pigeons, and less elongated than the eggs of th° 
terekay. They are covered with a calcareous crust, and, it ’ a 
* This word belongs to the Maypure language, and must not he con- 
founded with nrna, which means a crocodile, among the Tamanacs< 
neighbours of the Maypures. The Ottomacs call the turtle of Uruanai 
achea ; the Tamanacs, peje. 
