The First Ascent of Roraima. 
the immediate neighbourhood of Roraima, and even from 
any part of the savannah region in which that mountain 
stands only one party of Macoosis. This party of 
Macoosis, nine in all, under the leadership of one of 
the finest and best Indians I ever met, named Lonk, 
had come from a village called Konkarmo on the 
Ireng river, in sight of, but very far distant from, the 
Roraima, and by no means in a direct line between our 
then position at Ichowra and that mountain. As, 
however, it proved that of the Indians at Ichowra these 
were the only available guides into the district into 
which we wished to penetrate, we engaged them to 
take us as far as their home. Consequently we had 
to abandon our purpose of ascending to the head 
of the Potaro ; and instead we went up that river to 
a distance of but one day's travel beyond its great fall, 
the Kaieteur, and from that point, leaving the river, we 
walked back to the old mission station at Chinebowie.* 
But before we reached the last named place some 
serious difficulties presented themselves. The portages 
on the Potaro, at all times long, steep and difficult, were 
on account of the dryness of the season more than 
usually formidable. Once, in hauling one of the boats, 
luckily empty, through a cataract it sank, and was re- 
covered not without difficulty ; another time my favourite 
large cedar boat, while being dragged through the forest, 
past the impenetrable catara£ts at Amootoo, was pierced 
by the stump of a tree and, we not wishing then to delay 
to mend her, was abandoned until our return. And, on 
at last reaching the great Kaieteur fall with the remain- 
* This station is marked in what is practically the only available map 
of the colony as Enapowow. 
A 2 
