The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-28
One OF the Great but LittIe-KnOwn
Rivers of the World.
Caracas Herald.

Caracas Herald.
One of the greatest rivers Of the world,
the Orinoco, is also one of the least known
to Europeans. Its sister, the Amazon, has
often been described by Wallace and
Bates, among others, but Humboldt re-
mains practically the only writer of stand
ing upon the great stream, which, rising
on the frontiers Of Brazil, runs for two
thousand miles through Venezuela, receiv-
ing in its course such immense tributaries
as the Mela and Apure and diSchargtng
itself by a hundred mouths into the South
Atlantic opposite the British Island of
Trinidad.
available for sailing vessels, is the Boca
Grande, to the south into which flow,
among other tributaries, the Aratura and
the Amacura, the latter almost coinciding
in its course with the Schomburg boundary
line between British Guiana and Venezue-
la. But most of the traffic of the Orinoco
passes through Trinidad, where passengers
and goods are transferred to steamers al
most flat-bottomed, and reach the Orinoco
by the mouth known as Macarao the open
sea being avoided. 1t was by that route
that the writer started in the Apure, char
tered for the occasion, on trip of five
hundred miles up the great river forming
probably the first, and certainly the larg
est, party of tourists which had as
cended II.
Six hours after leaving Port-of-Spain the
entrance OF the Macarao was reached, and
for fourteen hours we naYigated deep
channel perhaps half a mile wide whose
attractions surprised those who had read OF
the delta of the OrinOcO dismal
swamp, thousands of square miles in ex-
tent, tenanted only by few wild Indians
who built heir houses in among the trees
by wild beasts and by birds. The descrip-
ton is true, though the impression left is
not quite correct. Well-nigh impenetrable
forests and underground hide ground which
is for the most part oOze, covered for half
the year by water. The Guaraon Indians
many of whom padded out to meet the
steamer and beg. in canoes roughly hol-
lowed from the trunk OF tree, and who
dispute supremacy of these wilds with
iaguars and alligators, are extremely low
specimens Of humanity, though attachment
to their dogs, large. rough-haired and ex-
cellent hunters, should be mentioned to
their credit.
But the passer-by sees none of the hor-
rors of this great swamp. They are con-
cealed by magnificent trees growing TO the
waters edge, whose branches may some
times be touched from the steamer when
she is steered close TO the shore in order to
avoid the current. Sometimes that splendid
parasite, the matapalo, has wrapped in it's
deadly folds several adjacent trees. and,
these perishing, II stands alone, showing
walls OF green, and resembling large ivy
mantled towers. Upon this and upon the
tops OF the tallest trees other parasites
fling masses OF blossom. A flock OF flamin-
goes make a brilliant scarlet patch here
and there: the sun flashes from parrots OF
many sizes and various .hues: snow white
cranes gaze stolidly from the banks; ma
/. caws, green and yellow, or deep crimson
on head and breast. fly heavily past and
smaller birds, of every color in the rain
bow scream or chatter or sing among the
trees.