DR. SCHOMBURGK’S RESEARCHES IN GUIANA. 
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Warpeshanas. Here every thing that could be spared was left behind, and on 
the 19th of December, with provisions calculated for ten days, Dr. Schomburgk 
proceeded on his journey to the Southward, across the savannahs. One of the 
Indian boys brought a beautiful piece of crystallised Quartz with laminae of Mica. 
On returning from Corona I examined the mountains, and found the crystals were 
partly embedded in Gypsum. Direction of strata North-West, and the place 
surrounded with numerous boulders of Granite. 
Dec. 20.—Continued our journey, accompanied by many Warpeshanas, who 
intended to make a trip of pleasure. Crossed the Rivulet Akalaurie, flowing from 
the East. Malpigkia verbascifolia was here only in flower, while at our leaving 
Annay a flower of that plant was scarcely to be discovered. It spread over the 
whole savannah, and its bright yellow flowers and light green leaves, silvery 
below, were very pleasing. We shortly after came to a tree loaded with fruit of 
the size and appearance of a black cherry, and of delicious taste, resembling 
custard; it is milky, and contains one or two flat seeds; the leaves are bright 
green, and lanceolate. The Caribees called the fruit u parata” the Warpeshanas’ 
“ witchaway .” We passed several large beds of Quartz which crossed the savan¬ 
nahs in North-East and South-West directions. From what I could see, they 
consisted of loose fragments, being raised sometimes only one or two feet above 
the savannah. The Quartz itself is milk-white, passing into rose-colour. Quartz 
is here one of the most prevailing rocks. 
Dec. 22.—Reached the Cartatan or Corona of the Portuguese, the largest fall 
of the Rupunoony. It is formed by a Granitic dyke, which crosses the river in an 
East-North-East direction. At several places while crossing the savannah we 
had observed isolated blocks of the same composition, which is remarkable for 
numerous holes, as if artificially formed. Gladly would I have explored the river 
to its sources, but the want of water for even our light canoes, a severe inter¬ 
mittent fever, and the approaching rainy season, would not allow it. We were 
therefore obliged to bend our steps Northward, and on the following day reached 
our encampment at Aripay. When I planned the ascent of the Rupunoony 
River it was one of my chief intentions to see the plant from which the Indians 
prepare the Celebrated Ouralie or Wourali poison. While at the lower Rupu¬ 
noony I had always been told that it grew on the Conocon Mountains, and I soon 
found that a day and a half journey would bring us there. After our return 
guides were therefore engaged, and we started on the morning of the 25th of 
December. At .five miles the ascent commenced, and by no means an easy one; 
after a march of eight hours and a half we reached a settlement of Warpeshanas, 
where we intended to rest for the night. On our arrival the chief dispatched some 
person to his field; he soon returned with a load of the finest Sugar-cane I ever 
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