Boraima, the Mysterious.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7659, 18 June 1896, Page 4

Boraima, the Mysterious.

Among the many objects of interest that have been brought to light by tho AngloVenezuelim dispute, there is, perhaps, none that cln'ms quite so much attention from the scientific world fis the so-callfid mountain of Roraima. Situated in the aouLh- western coiner of Sir Robert Schombui'Kk's alleged boundary bolweon British Guiitna and Venezuela, this wonderful geographical phenomenon, al though long known, has elicited but little interest, in point of fi«ct, however, it is a veritable scientific sphinx, the message of whose riddle has come down intact and unread from far geographical epochs to the present time. Thiß stupendous mountain, or isolated tableland, which the native Indians called " Roraima," or the mysterious, rises high in solitaiy grandeur above bhe surrounding mountain system, its perpendicular rocky sides rendering it absolutely inaccessible to the foot of man or beast. Crowning this impregnable fortress of nature is a tract of teiritory estimated to contain upward of 140 square miles. Unlike other inaccessible mountain summits of the world, this elevated region is no mere wilderness of Snowcapped ridges. On the contrary, all the indications, including the positive evidence of the telescope, point to its being covered with forests, intersected with rivers, fed from lakes, and to possess a climate that must, in the nature of things, be temperate — that is neither wintry, despite its latitude, nor tropical, dospite its equatorial position. The Government during the coming session is to be asked by the Taranaki people to introduce the Egmont National Park Bill, which is to authorise the setting apart of the Mount Egmont reserve and the Pouakai and Patua ranges as a national park. The necessity for the Bill has been provided by an expressed desire in some quarters to trench upon these reserves for settlement purposes. For the benefit of prospectors the Bill contains a saving clause, which will permit of prospecting, with the license of the Board in which the Bill is vested. Without such license a fine not exceeding L2O is provided against wilfully digging or cutting the sod. The same penalty is provided against taking away or destroying birds or animnls, or any egg of any kind ; taking away any wood, shrub, plant, or other thing.