Volume 1

Richard Schomburgk's Travels in British Guiana, 1840-1844 / translated and edited, with geographical and general indices, and route maps, by Walter E. Roth.

  • Richard Schomburgk
Date:
1922-1923
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Richard Schomburgk's Travels in British Guiana, 1840-1844 / translated and edited, with geographical and general indices, and route maps, by Walter E. Roth. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    142/490 (page 80)
    Expedition to the mouth of the Orinoco—Mouth of the Waini Sand- ])0 n p_Mora—Bn rim a—Warm us—Cu in a ka village and its environs— Commencement of the rainy season—First trip to the virgin forest Chigoes—Bete rouge—Mouth of the Barima and Orinoco—Return to Cuma ka_Ha bits of the Sloth—Arawak chief Caberalli—River Aruk'a—Amacura—Religious Beliefs, Manners and Customs of the Warraus—Journey up the Barima—Flora and Fauna of the river basin—Akawais—First appearance of primitive rocks. 276. Thus the day of departure ever drew nearer and kept us all the more occupied as we still had many a thing to think of, and much to worry over that we had postponed to the very last moment. While my brother purchased what he wanted wholesale, 1 had to get mine re¬ tail when, like a prudent housekeeper, I never dared let out of my sight my working capital that had dwindled down to a minus quantity :—- and yet in this noisy excitement, in the continual dread of having for¬ gotten this or that, there was something at the same time so satisfactory and stimulating that it is still a pleasure to call to mind those days re¬ plete with petty worries, unnecessary doubts, and fallacious hopes. Hut it was all due to the fact of its being my first journey to the interior of a country mat already in its civilised portion had opened quite a new, world to me. 27 <. xne wnole of the preparations were finally completed and all purciiases eitected. Cases and boxes filled with peas, rice, potatoes, coifee, sugar, and some North American hams: others with guns, powder and shot, coloured print, and salempore (a blue light cloth), with knives oi all sizes, looking-glasses, beads of different colours, fish-hooks, combs, scissors, needles and pins: barrels and kegs with North American salt- fisli, pickled beef and pork, vinegar, rum and spirits as well as a few bottles of wine—everything was ready and waiting to be put on board the big schooner “Home” which had to take us to the mouth of the Waini or Guiania in the Atlantic Ocean. Owing to our lodgings up to rue present being fairly distant from the landing-sitage, the transport¬ ing did not progress as quickly as my impatience could have wished, until it came to an end with the last of the astronomical instruments. 278. Morning of the 19th April broke on the whole of our crew, now in their neat and clean broad white linen trousers and jackets with red facings and red sashes, who were assembled in front of our house, the inside of which since the first streak of daylight had become the rendezvous of all our friends and acquaintances. There was plenty of joking and chaffing about the deeds of heroism that were promised and adventures already experienced in advance, while warnings were offered gratis as regards accidents to come. As a matter of fact, bets were made on the success or non-success of the Expedition or on the execution of this or that particular portion of it, for they could not resist their love of betting even where the future of their friends and associates was in question.