316 TlMEHRI. 
a couple of arrows and stalked ahead of the boat along 
the dry rocks and shallow channels to shoot fish. 
The river people say with very questionable accuracy 
that the gold diggers' boats by their frequent voyages 
have alarmed[the fish, which consequently have retreated 
into the tributaries of the Mazaruni ; but it may more 
reasonably be supposed, not that the fish are less nume- 
rous than before, but that they are frightened from their 
usual haunts only while a boat happens to be passing 
near them. This is easy of belief, for some of the gold 
diggers' crews sing, splash, and altogether make a hideous 
noise when travelling up and down ; and considering the 
great conductivity of sound in water, the noise must be 
sufficiently loud to be heard at considerable distances. 
At Kapurshi Mission Island, on my way down the 
river, I purchased a beautiful fish (pacuj, quite 8 lbs. in 
weight, from the Indians, who, as a people, move and 
hunt almost noiselessly. 
The surveyor's camp is pleasantly situated opposite 
the mouth of the Chinee Creek, about two days' journey 
up the Puruni River, and on its right bank. It consists 
of a small clearing in the forest about an acre in extent, 
on which stand four logies, or benabs, built of rough, 
round wood, thatched with the leaves of the manicole 
(Euterpe edulis) and tooroo (CEnocarpus baccaba) . 
Two benabs were reserved for the use of the hands, one for 
a store, and the fourth for myself. On three sides of the 
clearing, the forest trees, untouched by the axe, towered 
far overhead, amongst them being some splendid speci- 
mens of the valuable hardwoods of the colony, greenheart 
(Neclandra rodiaei) , mora (Mora excelsa), tonka bean 
(Dipteryx odorata), coutaballi, moraballi, and several 
