Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIII TO THE CATARACTS OF MAYPURES BY WAY OF JAVITA, AND RETURN TO SAN CARLOS [As this particular route has been more often described by other travellers, I have thought it advisable to give only an abstract of the greater . part of the Journal, while printing the account of Maypures and the cataracts, and the notes on the vegetation of the river-banks, in full. San Carlos was Spruce's head-quarters during a year and eight months, and he actually resided there on three separate occasions for periods of five and a half and three months (twice), making altogether only a fortnight less than a complete year. He there made himself familiar with the Spanish language, as well as with the most common Indian dialect, the Baria; and through intercourse with the Venezuelan officials, as well as with many traders and Indians, he obtained an extensive knowledge of the country and its productions, as well as of the people, their government, and their past history. His Journal and some of his Letters contain many short notes and essays which he no doubt intended to elaborate into a systematic account of this interesting and still little known region. All I am able to do here is to give a few of the more generally interesting of VOL. I 449 2 G these letters and notes, to form the latter portion of this chapter.] Voyage To Mavpures [Abstract of Journal by Editor) May 26, 1854, Spruce left San Carlos in his large canoe and travelled slowly up the Guainia, collecting plants on the way. On Sunday, June 4, he reached Tomo, and as the weather was very rainy he stayed there four days to dry and pack the F1g. 42.--Tomo, On The R1ver Gua1n1a Or Upper R1o Negro. The palm is the Guilielma speciosa. (R. S.) plants he had gathered, having to leave his boat...
