The sun., 1897-05-09
STORIES OF THE oRrxoco COUNTRY.
Waterfall or I.2OO Feet. Rerocious Fiahes.
and Hack Ants Inch and q Half Long.


and Hack Ants nm Inch and o Half Long.
From the 81. Paul Globe.
S. A. Thompson. who went to Venezuela last
year in company with L. o. Dent and others to
investigate the Orinoco country for the Fari-
bault syndicate. was in the city yesterday on
business. To Mcssrs Thompson and Dart be-
longs tho honor of discovering probably the
highest cascade in the world. The most OK.
haustivc search in all records has failed to dis.
close any record of the cascade heretofore.
Tho exploring party consisted OF Mr.. Thomp-
son, Mr.. Dart, and six or eight native carriers.
The party struck out at right angles from tho
orinoco through the dense iungles. Mr.. Thomp-
son said 1t was impossible to make more than
three or four miles per day through these for
csts. as the vines. trees, and underbrush were SO
closely intertwned. The party were compelled
TO use machetes TO cut their way through. At
night each man slung his hammock between the
trees, covered himself with stout mosquito
netting, and slept soundly. During tho trip
parrots and gayly plumcd birds were Gecn by
tho millions. Only seven snakes wcro secn
which rather disproves the theory that tho
junglcs of Venezuela arc inhabited by reptiles
The party continued through the JunRles for
100 miles, and one day tho sound of a mighty
cataract came 10 their ears. The exploring par
sound OF tho falling water was pursued, and in
an hour or two tho party came In full view OF
man.. Coming from a height. which then could
only bc guessed, WAS mighty torrent. 1t was
following the p..ecipitous sides of tho mountain,
which rose at an angle OF about S5 degrees Tho
water followed y multitude of channels, and its
rush churned It into white foam. Thompson
says the cascade looked like great sheet of ami
mated whilc lace with intricately woven moshcs
After standing spcllbound the party advanced
side to n height of 900 feet. but still tho water
fall lowered an equal distance aEovs them. Mr.
Thompson believes tho watCr falls a distance of
! 100 or |. 200 feet.
The cascade was named tho waterfall OF Ma
noa utter the mythical city of gold. for which
Raleigh and other explorers so vainly searched.
Mr. Thompson tells OF many wonderful freaks
tact with tho carib fish, which are the most fe-
rocious Inhabitants OF tho water known. The
fish are not over fourteen inches long but they
nered,. Any living object which attracts their
attention Is attacked with II fury. Mr.. Thomp-
son tells OF an Indian woman who entered tho
water to ill bucket; She was attacked by the
minutes, The flesh was literally torn from her
body Mr.; Dart. who was with Mr.. Thomp-
son, caught one of tho fish and pulled II
upon the bank, He held the cerib under his
his finger. With quick movement the carib
Topped out from under Mr.. Darts foot and
seized him by the finger, cutting that member
known 10 bite ordinary fish hooks in two
Another fish, which the party often came across,
was the morocotO, tho flavor of which Is like
Lake Superior whitehsh. only moro delicate.
The morocoto is provided with moler, teeth, and
subsists on vegetable matter, which II thor
Oughly masticates before swallowing. Another
peculiar creature found was the morocoy, a
species OF land turtle, which ct night utters
The bugs and black ants. Mr. Thompson said,
are the bano of the country. Tho black ant
resches tho length of an inch and = half