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Chapter III Two Days in Danaco
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223 chapter III Two Days in Danaco For the past few days, a mountain peak that the two skippers, Valdez and Parchal, said was the Yapacana Mountain could be seen on the eastern horizon. They also said that it was haunted, that every year in February and March the spirits light a great fire on its summit, which shines over the entire region and rises to the heavens. The falcas had reached this mountain on the evening of October 11, and the travelers estimated its dimensions to be four kilometers long, one and a half kilometers wide, and twelve hundred meters high. During the three days which had followed their departure from Carida, the boats, served by a constant breeze and encountering few obstacles, had made excellent progress. They had passed Luna Island and ascended the river between the two banks, which were thick with palm trees. They had even managed to maneuver successfully a little stretch of rapids called the “Devil’s Crossing.” Evidently the devil had not been very cross that day. The mountain of Yapacana occupies the plain that stretches out on the east side of the Orinoco. As M. Cha¬anjon indicates, its form is that of an enormous co~n. “And, as a result,” observed Germain Paterne, “why wouldn’t it contain demons, trolls, ogres, genies, and other spirits of mythological origin?” Facing the mountain, on the left bank beyond Mavilla Island, was the house of the local Venezuelan commissioner, a half-breed named Manuel Assomption.1 This man lived there with his wife, also a halfbreed , and several children—all in all, an interesting family. When the falcas came to rest before Danaco, it was already night. Their navigation had been slowed by damage sustained to the Gallinetta : despite all his ability, Valdez had not been able to prevent the boat, which was caught in an eddy, from crashing into the sharp corner of a boulder. Following this collision, a leak had appeared in the bottom of the vessel. Granted, it was not too severe, for it could be The mountain of Yapacana [100.24.20.141] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 10:15 GMT) 225 stanched with a few handfuls of dried grass. But before continuing the voyage it was necessary to repair the damage, which would be easy to do in Danaco. The passengers stayed all night at the edge of the riverbank on the south shore of Mavilla Island, without their arrival being pointed out to the commissioner. The next day at dawn, the falcas crossed a little branch of the river and approached a sort of pier for loading and unloading cargoes. Danaco was then a real village, not a mere ranch as the French explorer had described it in his book. Indeed, thanks to the intelligent activity of Manuel Assomption, this settlement had increased in size over the past few years, and its prosperity continued to grow. This half-breed had had the good idea of leaving his previous dwelling at Guachapana, closer to San Fernando , where the troublesome requisitions of the governor could reach him too easily. Here in Danaco he was free to exercise his own commerce, and that freedom had produced excellent results. At daybreak, Manuel had been made aware of the falcas’ arrival, so, accompanied by some of his peons, he hurried to welcome the voyagers. The latter came ashore, and Jean thought he should present one of the letters that the governor of San Fernando had given him for the o~cials of the upper Orinoco. Manuel Assomption took the letter, read it, and with a certain pride, said, “I did not need that letter to greet travelers who stop over in Danaco. Foreigners, especially Frenchmen, may be always assured of being well received in our villages of Venezuela.” “We thank you, M. Manuel,” replied Jacques Helloch. “But a repair needed to one of our boats will oblige us, perhaps, to become your guests for a couple of days.” “For a week, if you wish, monsieur. Danaco is forever open to the compatriots of the Frenchman Truchon, to whom we planters of the upper Orinoco owe much gratitude.” “We knew that we would receive a warm welcome, M. Manuel,” a~rmed Jean. “And how did you know that, my young man?” “Because this hospitality that you o¬er us, you also gave it five years ago to one of our countrymen who was going up the Orinoco to its sources.” 226 “M. Cha¬anjon...