Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-01-04

prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety. Washington, ID. CO
one of the worlds greatest water
falls lies In South America, only few
days steamlng from New Orleans and
little more than 200 miles inland. This
natural wonder of the western hemi-
sphere-Kaieteur falls of British
Guiana-is four and a half times the
height Of Niagara yet while 100000
persons journey TO Niagara each year,
only a handful of white men have seen
Kaieteur.
The traveller bound for the great
falls OF Kaieteur does not roll 10 his
destination by rail as do the tourists
bent on seeing Niagara or even those
visiting the Victoria falls In Africa.
Instead he must travel part of the
way by river steamers and complete
his journey padded I'm small boats,
with final scramble on foot. For
Kaieteur is In the heart Of the jungle.
The start is made from Georgetown,
British Guiana. on a small steamer
which ascends the Demerara river
Georgetown itself Is well worth visit.
Though en- the tropics. IL is comfort,
able place. kept cool by the steady
trade winds well governed. The
streets are vide. and through the
center OF many are canals filled with
enormous Victoria Regia water lilies.
The Demerara flows through a low
a fnN 4nf
the tide can be felt 50 miles from the
mouth. At Georgetown IL is so shall
low that the steamers entering the
port literally pillow through the mud.
and at full speed barely crawl 10 their
wharves. Forty years ago a vessel
was wrecked or the coast of Guiana,
and the mud has built around 1t until
today Il Is an inhabited island covered
with tall palms. Just outside OF
Georgetown the river steamer passes
the big sugar estate established long
ago by grants from the crown.
Al the end Of the first day the steam
er arrives at Wismar. The town Is
a tiny place. consisting Of the landing
stage. a railroad station, a store, gin
shop and a few huts. But the fact
that Il is In the terminus of the Demer-
ara ssequibo railroad gives II some
activity.
This railroad connects the two most
important rivers of the province. II
Is. Of course, narrow-gauged and poorly
built. but any sort Of railroad Is a
blessing i'm Guiana. The line runs over
ground as sandy as a beach-and in
deed that is what IL used TO be. All
the road below that point has been
built ont into the ocean. ROckstone,
terminus of the road on the Essequibo
river. Is hardly more imposing than
wismar. At Rockstone another river
steamer must be boarded for con-
tinuation Of the upstream journey. All
day the little steamer fights against a
current between the monotonous
shores. As n matter Of fact, one
hardly sees the shore itself, for the
bush is so thick that it grows out into
the river. leaving only lagoons by
which the Interior can be reached.
Up the Essequibo and Potaro.
The Essequibo is a surprisingly for
midable stream. Ii drains five times
the area drained by the Hudson and is
twice as long. Some 60 miles above
Rockstone the steamer leaves the
great river and enters the mouth Of
the Potaro, itself a stream of no mean
proportions. a few hours later Tuna
tumari. a tiny habitation built on a
Hill by the side Of a cataract Is sight
Ell. Tumatumari is the place at which
one usually makes contact with the
Indian guides and bearers, previously
engaged. upon whom dependence must
be placed In negotiating the last 80
miles OF the journey. The short stretch
between Tumatumari and Potaro land
Ing Is covered I'm a small launch. from
the latter point on. man power alone is
available. A cataract blocks the
stream above the landing. and must be
passed by portage. The necessary
boxes OF provisions are strapped on the
naked backs Of Indians and carried
for seven miles through the bush. on
such marches one must use every pre-
.autlon against poisonous snakes.