260 
N ATI VE SUPERSTITION'S. 
recesses of the cavern. “ Man,” say they, “ should avoid 
places which are enlightened neither by the sun (/.is), nor 
by the moon (nuna).” . ‘To go and join the guacharos,’ i» 
with tliem a phrase signifying to rejoin their fathers, to die. 
The magicians (piaches) and the poisoners (imorons) per- 
form their nocturnal tricks at the entrance of the cavern, to 
conjure the chief of the evil spirits (ivorokiamo). Thus in 
every region of the earth a resemblance may be traced 
in the early fictions of nations, those especially which re- 
late to two principles governing the world, the abode of 
souls after death, the happiness of the virtuous and the 
punishment of the guilty. The most different and most 
barbarous languages present a certain number of images, 
which are the same, because they have their source in the 
nature of our intelligence and our sensations. Darkness is 
everywhere connected with the idea of death. The Grotto 
of Caripe is the Tartarus of the Greeks ; and the guaebaros, 
which hover over the rivulet, uttering plaintive cries, remind 
us of the Stygian birds. 
At tho point where the river forms the subterranean 
cascade, a hill covered witli vegetation, which is opposite 
to the opening of tho grotto, presents a very picturesque 
aspect. It is seen at the extremity of a straight passage, 
240 toises in length. The stalactites descending from the 
roof, and resembling columns suspended in the air, are 
relieved on a back-ground of verdure. The opening of the 
cavern appeared singularly contracted, when we saw it about 
the middle of the day, illumined by the vivid light reflected 
at once from the sky, the plants, and the rocks. The 
distant light of day formed a strange contrast with the 
darkness which surrounded us in the vast cavern. Me 
discharged our guns at a venture, wherever the cries of the 
nocturnal birds and tho flapping of their wings, led us to 
suspect that a great number of nests were crowded together. 
After several fruitless attempts M. Bonpland succeeded in 
killing a couple of guaebaros, which, dazzled by the light of 
the torches, seemed to pursue us. This circumstance afforded 
me the means of making a drawing of this bird, which had 
previously been unknown to naturalists. We climbed, not 
without difficulty, the small hill whence the subterranean 
rivulet descends. We saw that the grotto was perceptibly 
