l6 TlMEHRI. 
mentioned, was almost in ruins. Matters did not look 
very bright for us just then. No one of our party knew 
the way across the low range which still lay between 
us and the towering cliffs of Roraima, that is from the 
valley of the Arapoo river, in which we then were, into 
the valley of the Kookenaam river, from which latter 
valley our first attack on Roraima was to be made ; 
nor did any of the Arekoona carriers who had come 
with us so far wish to proceed further with us into lands 
quite unknown to them. Nor again, owing to the ab- 
sence in our present position of the inhabitants of Too- 
roiking did it seem possible to procure either new guides 
and carriers or the supplies of fresh provisions which 
were very necessary for our large party. 
It was, therefore, a pleasant sight when, late in the 
afternoon, a few of the inhabitants of the village strag- 
gled back into it. Among these was an old, but most 
extraordinarily strongly built Arekoona, named Simon, 
whose every word, corresponding to the size of his 
body, was an hilarious roar. He promised, if we 
would wait till the next day, to send his son the 
next morning to a village somewhat nearer Roraima 
to fetch guides, and perhaps carriers, who would 
take us to that mountain ; and even that night he 
managed to procure for us a small supply of provisions. 
Unfortunately at noon next day his son returned with the 
unwelcome news that another white man had just ar- 
rived at the foot of Roraima, from the north, had taken 
away every available Indian as guide or carrier, and had 
bought up all the food, which was said to be very 
scarce in the valley of Kookenaam. The white stranger 
could of course be no other than Mr, SlEDEL, who hav- 
