The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-01-11

the greatest natural wonders of Guiana
Toward this mountain the travellers pro-
ceeded along the stream Guidara. After
some days spent in toiling against the
stream and crossing extensive savannas,
they reached the settlement OF Wapis-
ianas, where, although these Indians had
never before seen a white man, they were
received kindly. With the Wapasianas for
a guide the party proceeded along chain
of hills leading TO well wooded plains.
The party then proceeded to the Cara
waimi mountains.
descending to the Cuyuwini they
again entered the Essequibo and proceed
ed along this river to It's junction with
the Caueruau, when they struck in a
southerly direction to a settlement and
visited afterward a settlement in latitude
IL minutes south. They had passed the
equator at noon, and had so far accom-
plished one of the objects of the expedi-
ton. Immediately on returning to tho
boats they started on their further ascent
into the Essequibo. After three days
they could make no further progress in
their corials (canoes), and set out on foot.
After three days painful marching they
arrived at one of the western sources of
the Essequibo, at spot surrounded by
high trees, interviewer with lianas so
much that no sight could be gotten of sun
or stars; but by the course and distance
1t was judged to be in Al minutes north
latitude. The British ensign was holsted
and secured firmly to one of the trees,
there to remain until time should de-
stroy it, Her majesty's health was drunk
in the unadulterated waters of the Esse-
quibo. and the party returned to the
corials.
a
and thence to Pirara. From this place
Mr.. Schomburgk made several excursions
| upon the neighboring savannas and final
| ly left Pirara, arriving on the 90th of June
at Fort San Joaquin. Fort San Joaquin
! is situated on the eastern shore of Takatu,
a short distance from its confluence with
the Rio Branco. 1t was built to prevent
the incursions of the Spaniards and
Dutch. Mr.. Schomburgk left for Fort
San Joaquin on the Goth of September,
1884, and, sailing up the Takatu and pass
ing its confluence with the zuruma and
| the Mahu, entered the latter river and
walked to the Macusi village of that
| name. Here he remained three days At
length the column was put in marching
| order, the coxswain, carrying the Brit
ish union flag, under which they had been
it was to lead them beyond the British
boundary into the region only known to
the copper-colored Indian, but they we're
animated with the hope of reaching for
the first time, from this side of the con-
tinent that point which Baron Humboldt
had in 1900 arrived at from the westward
Esmeralda on the Orinoco."
Just prior to starting out from Fort San
Joaquin, Mr.. Schomburgk made trip
to the mountains of Mocajahi, and while
there met a press-gang sent out by the
Brazilian government to impress Indians
for the navy. He used his utmost en-
deavors to have them released, and in
this connection his memoirs say: 1T was
his opinion that the inferior officers wish
ed to use the impressing of Indians for the
Brazilian navy as an excuse TO procure
young and old, in order to sell their allief
those who were not fit for that purpose
When the boundaries of the rich and pro-
ductive colony of Guiana shall have beer
decided by the government survey, it il
to be hoped that peace and happiness will
! be insured to those who dwell on tn,
British side of the frontier" After thi:
side trip he returned and started for thu
Orinoco.
: Ten days journey brought the expedi
{ ton to a settlement of the Arocunas
I Next day they crossed the Yawaira, flow
S ing northward, and tributary to the Ca
e roni, and entered, therefore, the basin o
= the Orinoco, which is divided from tina.
e of the Amazon by a range of sandston
= mountains. On the Sd of December the,
S reached a Zapara settlement of upwar'
s of 60 Indians. With one of these for
}, guide they embarked on the Parma river
e which is the continuation of the Rio Bran
a co, and assembled this until they encoun
d tered rapids which stopped their progress
f 1.-The travellers now found It impossible
e to make their way further by water an
y after many endeavors were finally com
: PEELED to return, after being within 8
d miles of Esmeralda- Making, therefore
o a long circuit to the northward, and the
> proceeding up the river Paranui, he en-
: tered, after 20 days of weary travel owe
# wild and unknown country the Rive
Orinoco in latitude 2 degrees "a minute
north. This elsewhere mighty river wa
D. here INSTRUCTED with sandbanks, with s
a little current in many places as to max
IL the water appear stagnant. The exped
ton halted at a sandbank opposite tn
River Wapo, where they were tormente
~ by swarm of sand1ies at a heat of i
- degrees in the sun. Thence they starte
= toward Esmeralda, and at length can
~ in view of a fine savanna extending I
"A the foot of the mountain, which, frol
40 Humboldt's description, was known to /
IN that of Eemeralda-
ne State immigration.