DR. SCHOMBURGK’S RESEARCHES IN GUIANA. 
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wood is used by the Indians for poisoning the waters to catch fish. It is a ligneous 
climber, or Bush-rope as it is called here, with pinnated leaves and papilionaceous 
flowers, which, if examined carefully, will be found to be Robinia scandens of 
Willdenow ( Lonchocarpus nicou of De Candolle), or a variety of it which Dr. 
Hancock states his having used at the fall below. 
Oct. 24.—Commenced the ascent of the Rupunoony, the vegetation of which 
river is far less luxuriant than that of the Essequibo : the banks are lined with 
the Water Guava, conspicuous by its light green leaves and snow white blossoms; 
and clusters of the Sawary Palm, a sure sign of poverty of soil. For several days 
past the Caymans had shown themselves very frequently. To-night one full 
sixteen feet came along, close to the bank, to reconnoitre us. We saluted him 
with balls, which we saw strike, but took no effect. He only plunged and 
re-appeared to watch our movements. On the 25th we reached the Rivulet Annay, 
which falls into the Rupunoony on its right bank, about twenty miles from its 
confluence with the Essequibo, and here, at what is usually considered the South- 
West extremity of the British colony, we formed a temporary habitation, where 
the whole of the month of November was passed, recruiting. the health of the 
party, in obtaining information from the natives, collecting and preserving 
specimens in Natural History, &c.; and on the 1st of December with three 
corials proceeded in the ascent of the Rupunoony. 
The river meanders along a South-Eastern offset of the Parime Mountains. Its 
banks are of light yellowish Clay, mixed with Sand; trees of moderate size 
skirt the banks, and immediately behind them extend the savannahs to the 
foot of the mountains. Sand-banks were frequent. We observed black porous 
rocks lying on the banks or embedded in the Clay. Banks of Gravel occur, 
consisting chiefly of small irregular fragments of Quartz and Granite. The King¬ 
fisher ( Alcedo ), called, by the Caribs u Sacka-sacka” is the most common bird in 
these regions. We noticed four species, one of the size of a Sparrow, with a fine 
orange breast (in Caribee “ Sarrie curou ”). Divers (“ Carara of the Caribs) are 
likewise numerous. Next morning we continued the ascent of the Rupunoony : 
the banks were wooded occasionally. Savannahs approached the river on the 
Eastern side. We ascended one of the banks to take a look at the savannahs. 
The Grass was six feet in height. The savannahs seemed to extend from four to 
five miles, to the Eastward, and were bounded by gently-undulating, well-wooded 
ground. The mountain-chain Conucon bore nearly South. The nearer we 
approached the mountains the more turnings made the river, and the shallower it 
became. Its banks have, however, a more lively appearance, and we singled out 
some noble trees ; even some Silk Cotton-trees* ( Bombax globosum) would have 
* The Silk Cotton-tree grows to the height of 100 feet, and 12 or 14 in diameter, and is in great 
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