Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1902-04-25
THE ORINOCO RIVER.
But Little Is Known of 1t Out of South
America.

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 remains practically the
only writer of standing upon the great
stream which, rising on the frontiers
of Brazil. runs for 1000 miles through
Venezuela, receiving in its course such
immense tributaries as the Mela and
Apure. and discharging itself by hum
dred mouths into the South Atlantic
opposite the British island of Trinidad.
The principal entrance. and the only
one available for sailing vessels, is the
Boca Grande. to the south. into which
flow. among other tributaries, the Ara
tura and the Amacura, the latter al
most coinciding in its course with the
Schomburgk boundary line between
British Guiana and Venezuela. But
most of the traffic of the OrinocO
passes through Trinidad where pas
sengers and goods are transferred to
steamers almost fiat-bottomed, and
reach the Orinoco by the mouth known
as Macarac, the open sea being avoid
ed. 1t was by that route that the
writer started in Apure. chartered for
the occasion, on a trip of 500 miles up
the great river. forming probably the
first. and certainly the largest party OF
tourists which had ever assembled it.
Six hours after leaving Port of Spain
the entrance of the Macarao was
reached and for fourteen hours we
navigated deep channel perhaps half
mile wide, whose attraction surprised
those who had read of the delta of the
Orinoco as a dismal swamp. thousands
of square miles in extent. tenanted only
by few wild Indians, who built their
houses in among the trees, by wild
beasts and by birds. The description is
true, though the impression left is not
quite correct. Well nigh impenetrab BILE
forests and underSrowth hide ground
which is for the most part ooze. COW
cred for half the year by water. The
Guaraoan Indians, many of whom pad
died out to meet the steamer and beg
in canoes roughly followed from the
trunk of Il tree, and who dispute SUI
premacy of these wilds with jaguars
and alligators, are extremely low spec
linens of humanity, though attachment
to their dogs. large, rough haired and
excellent hunters should be mentioned
to their credit.
But the passerby sees none of the
horrors of this great swamp. They are
concealed by magnificent trees grow
ing to the waters edge, whose branches
may sometimes 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 its deadly
folds several adjacent trees. and, these
perishing, it stands alone, showing
walls Of green and resembling a large
ivy mantled tower. Upon this and
upon the tops of the tallest trees other
parasites fling masses of blossom. A
flock of fiamingoes makes 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; macaws, green
and yellow, or deep crimson on head
and breast, fly heavily past; and small
er birds of every color of the rainbow
scream or chatter or sing among the
trees.-CaracaS Herald.