RAUDAL OF CAMISETA. 
517 
mouths ; and some of them, it was believed, continued to 
push forth leaves beneath the water. This phenomenon is 
the more worthy of attention, as the soil of these countries 
is probably granitic. I doubt the secondary formations of 
the Llanos being continued southward as far as the valley 
of Caura. 
On the 11th of June we landed on the right bank of the 
Orinoco at Puerto de los Frailes, at the distance of three 
leagues above the Ciudad de la Piedra, to take altitudes of 
the sun. The longitude of this point is (57° 2G' 20", or 
1° 41' east of the mouth of the Apure. Farther on, between 
the towns of La Piedra and Muitaco, or Eeal Corona, are 
the Torno aud Boca del Inflerno, two points formerly 
dreaded by travellers. The Orinoco suddenly changes its 
direction ; it flows first east, then nortk-uortk-west, and 
then again east. A little above the Cano Marapiche, 
which opens oa the northern bank, a very long island 
divides the river into two branches. 'We passed on 
the south of this island without difficulty; northward, a 
chain of small rocks, half covered at high water, forms 
whirlpools and rapids. This is la Boca del Infierno, and 
the Kaudal de Camiseta. The first expeditions of Diego 
Ordaz (1531) and Alonzo de Herrera (1535) have given 
celebrity to this bar. The Great Cataracts of the Atures 
and Maypures were then unknown; and the clumsy vessels 
( vergantvnes ) in which travellers persisted in going up the 
river, rendered the passage through the rapids extremely 
difficult. At present no apprehension is felt in ascending 
or descending the Orinoco, at any season, from its mouth as 
far as the confluence of the Apure and the Meta. The only 
falls of water in this space are those of Torno or Camiseta, 
Marimara, and Cariven or Carichana Vieja. Neither of 
these three obstacles is to be feared with experienced Indian 
pilots. I dwell on these hydrographic details, because a 
great political and commercial interest is now connected 
with the communications between Angostura and the banks 
of the Meta and the Apure, two rivers that lead to the 
eastern side of the Cordilleras of New Grenada. The navi- 
gation from the mouth of the Lower Orinoco to the province 
of Varinas is difficidt only on account of the current. The 
bed of the river novhere presents obstacles more difficult to 
