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diff --git a/2272-h/2272-h.htm b/2272-h/2272-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..38e3225 --- /dev/null +++ b/2272-h/2272-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3436 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Discovery of Guiana, by Sir Walter Raleigh + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Discovery of Guiana, by Sir Walter Raleigh + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Discovery of Guiana + +Author: Sir Walter Raleigh + +Release Date: March 25, 2006 [EBook #2272] +Last Updated: February 7, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA *** + + + + +Produced by Dagny; John Bickers and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h1> + THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Sir Walter Raleigh + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Contents + </h2> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> INTRODUCTORY NOTE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> RALEIGH'S DISCOVERY OF GUIANA </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> TO THE READER </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA </a> + </p> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + INTRODUCTORY NOTE + </h2> + <p> + Sir Walter Raleigh may be taken as the great typical figure of the age of + Elizabeth. Courtier and statesman, soldier and sailor, scientist and man + of letters, he engaged in almost all the main lines of public activity in + his time, and was distinguished in them all. + </p> + <p> + His father was a Devonshire gentleman of property, connected with many of + the distinguished families of the south of England. Walter was born about + 1552 and was educated at Oxford. He first saw military service in the + Huguenot army in France in 1569, and in 1578 engaged, with his + half-brother, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, in the first of his expeditions + against the Spaniards. After some service in Ireland, he attracted the + attention of the Queen, and rapidly rose to the perilous position of her + chief favorite. With her approval, he fitted out two expeditions for the + colonization of Virginia, neither of which did his royal mistress permit + him to lead in person, and neither of which succeeded in establishing a + permanent settlement. + </p> + <p> + After about six years of high favor, Raleigh found his position at court + endangered by the rivalry of Essex, and in 1592, on returning from + convoying a squadron he had fitted out against the Spanish, he was thrown + into the Tower by the orders of the Queen, who had discovered an intrigue + between him and one of her ladies whom he subsequently married. He was + ultimately released, engaged in various naval exploits, and in 1594 sailed + for South America on the voyage described in the following narrative. + </p> + <p> + On the death of Elizabeth, Raleigh's misfortunes increased. He was accused + of treason against James I, condemned, reprieved, and imprisoned for + twelve years, during which he wrote his "History of the World," and + engaged in scientific researches. In 1616 he was liberated, to make + another attempt to find the gold mine in Venezuela; but the expedition was + disastrous, and, on his return, Raleigh was executed on the old charge in + 1618. In his vices as in his virtues, Raleigh is a thorough representative + of the great adventurers who laid the foundations of the British Empire. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + RALEIGH'S DISCOVERY OF GUIANA + </h2> + <p> + The Discovery of the large, rich, and beautiful EMPIRE Of GUIANA; with a + Relation of the great and golden CITY of MANOA, which the Spaniards call + EL DORADO, and the PROVINCES of EMERIA, AROMAIA, AMAPAIA, and other + Countries, with their rivers, adjoining. Performed in the year 1595 by Sir + WALTER RALEIGH, KNIGHT, CAPTAIN of her Majesty's GUARD, Lord Warden of the + STANNARIES, and her Highness' LIEUTENANT-GENERAL of the COUNTY of + CORNWALL. + </p> + <p> + To the Right Honourable my singular good Lord and kinsman CHARLES HOWARD, + Knight of the Garter, Baron, and Councillor, and of the Admirals of + England the most renowned; and to the Right Honourable SIR ROBERT CECIL, + KNIGHT, Councillor in her Highness' Privy Councils. + </p> + <p> + For your Honours' many honourable and friendly parts, I have hitherto only + returned promises; and now, for answer of both your adventures, I have + sent you a bundle of papers, which I have divided between your Lordship + and Sir Robert Cecil, in these two respects chiefly; first, for that it is + reason that wasteful factors, when they have consumed such stocks as they + had in trust, do yield some colour for the same in their account; + secondly, for that I am assured that whatsoever shall be done, or written, + by me, shall need a double protection and defence. The trial that I had of + both your loves, when I was left of all, but of malice and revenge, makes + me still presume that you will be pleased (knowing what little power I had + to perform aught, and the great advantage of forewarned enemies) to answer + that out of knowledge, which others shall but object out of malice. In my + more happy times as I did especially honour you both, so I found that your + loves sought me out in the darkest shadow of adversity, and the same + affection which accompanied my better fortune soared not away from me in + my many miseries; all which though I cannot requite, yet I shall ever + acknowledge; and the great debt which I have no power to pay, I can do no + more for a time but confess to be due. It is true that as my errors were + great, so they have yielded very grievous effects; and if aught might have + been deserved in former times, to have counterpoised any part of offences, + the fruit thereof, as it seemeth, was long before fallen from the tree, + and the dead stock only remained. I did therefore, even in the winter of + my life, undertake these travails, fitter for bodies less blasted with + misfortunes, for men of greater ability, and for minds of better + encouragement, that thereby, if it were possible, I might recover but the + moderation of excess, and the least taste of the greatest plenty formerly + possessed. If I had known other way to win, if I had imagined how greater + adventures might have regained, if I could conceive what farther means I + might yet use but even to appease so powerful displeasure, I would not + doubt but for one year more to hold fast my soul in my teeth till it were + performed. Of that little remain I had, I have wasted in effect all + herein. I have undergone many constructions; I have been accompanied with + many sorrows, with labour, hunger, heat, sickness, and peril; it + appeareth, notwithstanding, that I made no other bravado of going to the + sea, than was meant, and that I was never hidden in Cornwall, or + elsewhere, as was supposed. They have grossly belied me that forejudged + that I would rather become a servant to the Spanish king than return; and + the rest were much mistaken, who would have persuaded that I was too + easeful and sensual to undertake a journey of so great travail. But if + what I have done receive the gracious construction of a painful + pilgrimage, and purchase the least remission, I shall think all too + little, and that there were wanting to the rest many miseries. But if both + the times past, the present, and what may be in the future, do all by one + grain of gall continue in eternal distaste, I do not then know whether I + should bewail myself, either for my too much travail and expense, or + condemn myself for doing less than that which can deserve nothing. From + myself I have deserved no thanks, for I am returned a beggar, and + withered; but that I might have bettered my poor estate, it shall appear + from the following discourse, if I had not only respected her Majesty's + future honour and riches. + </p> + <p> + It became not the former fortune, in which I once lived, to go journeys of + picory (marauding); it had sorted ill with the offices of honour, which by + her Majesty's grace I hold this day in England, to run from cape to cape + and from place to place, for the pillage of ordinary prizes. Many years + since I had knowledge, by relation, of that mighty, rich, and beautiful + empire of Guiana, and of that great and golden city, which the Spaniards + call El Dorado, and the naturals Manoa, which city was conquered, + re-edified, and enlarged by a younger son of Guayna-capac, Emperor of + Peru, at such time as Francisco Pizarro and others conquered the said + empire from his two elder brethren, Guascar and Atabalipa, both then + contending for the same, the one being favoured by the orejones of Cuzco, + the other by the people of Caxamalca. I sent my servant Jacob Whiddon, the + year before, to get knowledge of the passages, and I had some light from + Captain Parker, sometime my servant, and now attending on your Lordship, + that such a place there was to the southward of the great bay of Charuas, + or Guanipa: but I found that it was 600 miles farther off than they + supposed, and many impediments to them unknown and unheard. After I had + displanted Don Antonio de Berreo, who was upon the same enterprise, + leaving my ships at Trinidad, at the port called Curiapan, I wandered 400 + miles into the said country by land and river; the particulars I will + leave to the following discourse. + </p> + <p> + The country hath more quantity of gold, by manifold, than the best parts + of the Indies, or Peru. All the most of the kings of the borders are + already become her Majesty's vassals, and seem to desire nothing more than + her Majesty's protection and the return of the English nation. It hath + another ground and assurance of riches and glory than the voyages of the + West Indies; an easier way to invade the best parts thereof than by the + common course. The king of Spain is not so impoverished by taking three or + four port towns in America as we suppose; neither are the riches of Peru + or Nueva Espana so left by the sea side as it can be easily washed away + with a great flood, or spring tide, or left dry upon the sands on a low + ebb. The port towns are few and poor in respect of the rest within the + land, and are of little defence, and are only rich when the fleets are to + receive the treasure for Spain; and we might think the Spaniards very + simple, having so many horses and slaves, if they could not upon two days' + warning carry all the gold they have into the land, and far enough from + the reach of our footmen, especially the Indies being, as they are for the + most part, so mountainous, full of woods, rivers, and marishes. In the + port towns of the province of Venezuela, as Cumana, Coro, and St. Iago + (whereof Coro and St. Iago were taken by Captain Preston, and Cumana and + St. Josepho by us) we found not the value of one real of plate in either. + But the cities of Barquasimeta, Valencia, St. Sebastian, Cororo, St. + Lucia, Laguna, Maracaiba, and Truxillo, are not so easily invaded. Neither + doth the burning of those on the coast impoverish the king of Spain any + one ducat; and if we sack the River of Hacha, St. Martha, and Carthagena, + which are the ports of Nuevo Reyno and Popayan, there are besides within + the land, which are indeed rich and prosperous, the towns and cities of + Merida, Lagrita, St. Christophoro, the great cities of Pamplona, Santa Fe + de Bogota, Tunxa, and Mozo, where the emeralds are found, the towns and + cities of Marequita, Velez, la Villa de Leiva, Palma, Honda, Angostura, + the great city of Timana, Tocaima, St. Aguila, Pasto, [St.] Iago, the + great city of Popayan itself, Los Remedios, and the rest. If we take the + ports and villages within the bay of Uraba in the kingdom or rivers of + Darien and Caribana, the cities and towns of St. Juan de Rodas, of + Cassaris, of Antiochia, Caramanta, Cali, and Anserma have gold enough to + pay the king's part, and are not easily invaded by way of the ocean. Or if + Nombre de Dios and Panama be taken, in the province of Castilla del Oro, + and the villages upon the rivers of Cenu and Chagre; Peru hath, besides + those, and besides the magnificent cities of Quito and Lima, so many + islands, ports, cities, and mines as if I should name them with the rest + it would seem incredible to the reader. Of all which, because I have + written a particular treatise of the West Indies, I will omit the + repetition at this time, seeing that in the said treatise I have + anatomized the rest of the sea towns as well of Nicaragua, Yucatan, Nueva + Espana, and the islands, as those of the inland, and by what means they + may be best invaded, as far as any mean judgment may comprehend. + </p> + <p> + But I hope it shall appear that there is a way found to answer every man's + longing; a better Indies for her Majesty than the king of Spain hath any; + which if it shall please her Highness to undertake, I shall most willingly + end the rest of my days in following the same. If it be left to the spoil + and sackage of common persons, if the love and service of so many nations + be despised, so great riches and so mighty an empire refused; I hope her + Majesty will yet take my humble desire and my labour therein in gracious + part, which, if it had not been in respect of her Highness' future honour + and riches, could have laid hands on and ransomed many of the kings and + caciqui of the country, and have had a reasonable proportion of gold for + their redemption. But I have chosen rather to bear the burden of poverty + than reproach; and rather to endure a second travail, and the chances + thereof, than to have defaced an enterprise of so great assurance, until I + knew whether it pleased God to put a disposition in her princely and royal + heart either to follow or forslow (neglect, decline, lose through sloth) + the same. I will therefore leave it to His ordinance that hath only power + in all things; and do humbly pray that your honours will excuse such + errors as, without the defence of art, overrun in every part the following + discourse, in which I have neither studied phrase, form, nor fashion; that + you will be pleased to esteem me as your own, though over dearly bought, + and I shall ever remain ready to do you all honour and service. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + TO THE READER + </h2> + <p> + Because there have been divers opinions conceived of the gold ore brought + from Guiana, and for that an alderman of London and an officer of her + Majesty's mint hath given out that the same is of no price, I have thought + good by the addition of these lines to give answer as well to the said + malicious slander as to other objections. It is true that while we abode + at the island of Trinidad I was informed by an Indian that not far from + the port where we anchored there were found certain mineral stones which + they esteemed to be gold, and were thereunto persuaded the rather for that + they had seen both English and Frenchmen gather and embark some quantities + thereof. Upon this likelihood I sent forty men, and gave order that each + one should bring a stone of that mine, to make trial of the goodness; + which being performed, I assured them at their return that the same was + marcasite, and of no riches or value. Notwithstanding, divers, trusting + more to their own sense than to my opinion, kept of the said marcasite, + and have tried thereof since my return, in divers places. In Guiana itself + I never saw marcasite; but all the rocks, mountains, all stones in the + plains, woods, and by the rivers' sides, are in effect thorough-shining, + and appear marvellous rich; which, being tried to be no marcasite, are the + true signs of rich minerals, but are no other than El madre del oro, as + the Spaniards term them, which is the mother of gold, or, as it is said by + others, the scum of gold. Of divers sorts of these many of my company + brought also into England, every one taking the fairest for the best, + which is not general. For mine own part, I did not countermand any man's + desire or opinion, and I could have afforded them little if I should have + denied them the pleasing of their own fancies therein; but I was resolved + that gold must be found either in grains, separate from the stone, as it + is in most of the rivers in Guiana, or else in a kind of hard stone, which + we call the white spar, of which I saw divers hills, and in sundry places, + but had neither time nor men, nor instruments fit for labour. Near unto + one of the rivers I found of the said white spar or flint a very great + ledge or bank, which I endeavoured to break by all the means I could, + because there appeared on the outside some small grains of gold; but + finding no mean to work the same upon the upper part, seeking the sides + and circuit of the said rock, I found a clift in the same, from whence + with daggers, and with the head of an axe, we got out some small quantity + thereof; of which kind of white stone, wherein gold is engendered, we saw + divers hills and rocks in every part of Guiana wherein we travelled. Of + this there have been made many trials; and in London it was first assayed + by Master Westwood, a refiner dwelling in Wood Street, and it held after + the rate of twelve or thirteen thousand pounds a ton. Another sort was + afterward tried by Master Bulmar, and Master Dimock, assay-master; and it + held after the rate of three and twenty thousand pounds a ton. There was + some of it again tried by Master Palmer, Comptroller of the Mint, and + Master Dimock in Goldsmith's Hall, and it held after six and twenty + thousand and nine hundred pounds a ton. There was also at the same time, + and by the same persons, a trial made of the dust of the said mine; which + held eight pounds and six ounces weight of gold in the hundred. There was + likewise at the same time a trial of an image of copper made in Guiana, + which held a third part of gold, besides divers trials made in the + country, and by others in London. But because there came ill with the + good, and belike the said alderman was not presented with the best, it + hath pleased him therefore to scandal all the rest, and to deface the + enterprise as much as in him lieth. It hath also been concluded by divers + that if there had been any such ore in Guiana, and the same discovered, + that I would have brought home a greater quantity thereof. First, I was + not bound to satisfy any man of the quantity, but only such as adventured, + if any store had been returned thereof; but it is very true that had all + their mountains been of massy gold it was impossible for us to have made + any longer stay to have wrought the same; and whosoever hath seen with + what strength of stone the best gold ore is environed, he will not think + it easy to be had out in heaps, and especially by us, who had neither men, + instruments, nor time, as it is said before, to perform the same. + </p> + <p> + There were on this discovery no less than an hundred persons, who can all + witness that when we passed any branch of the river to view the land + within, and stayed from our boats but six hours, we were driven to wade to + the eyes at our return; and if we attempted the same the day following, it + was impossible either to ford it, or to swim it, both by reason of the + swiftness, and also for that the borders were so pestered with fast woods, + as neither boat nor man could find place either to land or to embark; for + in June, July, August, and September it is impossible to navigate any of + those rivers; for such is the fury of the current, and there are so many + trees and woods overflown, as if any boat but touch upon any tree or stake + it is impossible to save any one person therein. And ere we departed the + land it ran with such swiftness as we drave down, most commonly against + the wind, little less than an hundred miles a day. Besides, our vessels + were no other than wherries, one little barge, a small cock-boat, and a + bad galiota which we framed in haste for that purpose at Trinidad; and + those little boats had nine or ten men apiece, with all their victuals and + arms. It is further true that we were about four hundred miles from our + ships, and had been a month from them, which also we left weakly manned in + an open road, and had promised our return in fifteen days. + </p> + <p> + Others have devised that the same ore was had from Barbary, and that we + carried it with us into Guiana. Surely the singularity of that device I do + not well comprehend. For mine own part, I am not so much in love with + these long voyages as to devise thereby to cozen myself, to lie hard, to + fare worse, to be subjected to perils, to diseases, to ill savours, to be + parched and withered, and withal to sustain the care and labour of such an + enterprise, except the same had more comfort than the fetching of + marcasite in Guiana, or buying of gold ore in Barbary. But I hope the + better sort will judge me by themselves, and that the way of deceit is not + the way of honour or good opinion. I have herein consumed much time, and + many crowns; and I had no other respect or desire than to serve her + Majesty and my country thereby. If the Spanish nation had been of like + belief to these detractors we should little have feared or doubted their + attempts, wherewith we now are daily threatened. But if we now consider of + the actions both of Charles the Fifth, who had the maidenhead of Peru and + the abundant treasures of Atabalipa, together with the affairs of the + Spanish king now living, what territories he hath purchased, what he hath + added to the acts of his predecessors, how many kingdoms he hath + endangered, how many armies, garrisons, and navies he hath, and doth + maintain, the great losses which he hath repaired, as in Eighty-eight + above an hundred sail of great ships with their artillery, and that no + year is less infortunate, but that many vessels, treasures, and people are + devoured, and yet notwithstanding he beginneth again like a storm to + threaten shipwrack to us all; we shall find that these abilities rise not + from the trades of sacks and Seville oranges, nor from aught else that + either Spain, Portugal, or any of his other provinces produce; it is his + Indian gold that endangereth and disturbeth all the nations of Europe; it + purchaseth intelligence, creepeth into counsels, and setteth bound loyalty + at liberty in the greatest monarchies of Europe. If the Spanish king can + keep us from foreign enterprises, and from the impeachment of his trades, + either by offer of invasion, or by besieging us in Britain, Ireland, or + elsewhere, he hath then brought the work of our peril in great + forwardness. + </p> + <p> + Those princes that abound in treasure have great advantages over the rest, + if they once constrain them to a defensive war, where they are driven once + a year or oftener to cast lots for their own garments; and from all such + shall all trades and intercourse be taken away, to the general loss and + impoverishment of the kingdom and commonweal so reduced. Besides, when our + men are constrained to fight, it hath not the like hope as when they are + pressed and encouraged by the desire of spoil and riches. Farther, it is + to be doubted how those that in time of victory seem to affect their + neighbour nations will remain after the first view of misfortunes or ill + success; to trust, also, to the doubtfulness of a battle is but a fearful + and uncertain adventure, seeing therein fortune is as likely to prevail as + virtue. It shall not be necessary to allege all that might be said, and + therefore I will thus conclude; that whatsoever kingdom shall be enforced + to defend itself may be compared to a body dangerously diseased, which for + a season may be preserved with vulgar medicines, but in a short time, and + by little and little, the same must needs fall to the ground and be + dissolved. I have therefore laboured all my life, both according to my + small power and persuasion, to advance all those attempts that might + either promise return of profit to ourselves, or at least be a let and + impeachment to the quiet course and plentiful trades of the Spanish + nation; who, in my weak judgement, by such a war were as easily endangered + and brought from his powerfulness as any prince in Europe, if it be + considered from how many kingdoms and nations his revenues are gathered, + and those so weak in their own beings and so far severed from mutual + succour. But because such a preparation and resolution is not to be hoped + for in haste, and that the time which our enemies embrace cannot be had + again to advantage, I will hope that these provinces, and that empire now + by me discovered, shall suffice to enable her Majesty and the whole + kingdom with no less quantities of treasure than the king of Spain hath in + all the Indies, East and West, which he possesseth; which if the same be + considered and followed, ere the Spaniards enforce the same, and if her + Majesty will undertake it, I will be contented to lose her Highness' + favour and good opinion for ever, and my life withal, if the same be not + found rather to exceed than to equal whatsoever is in this discourse + promised and declared. I will now refer the reader to the following + discourse, with the hope that the perilous and chargeable labours and + endeavours of such as thereby seek the profit and honour of her Majesty, + and the English nation, shall by men of quality and virtue receive such + construction and good acceptance as themselves would like to be rewarded + withal in the like. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE DISCOVERY[*] OF GUIANA[+] + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + [*] Exploration + + [+] The name is derived from the Guayano Indians, on the + Orinoco. +</pre> + <p> + On Thursday, the sixth of February, in the year 1595, we departed England, + and the Sunday following had sight of the north cape of Spain, the wind + for the most part continuing prosperous; we passed in sight of the + Burlings, and the Rock, and so onwards for the Canaries, and fell with + Fuerteventura the 17. of the same month, where we spent two or three days, + and relieved our companies with some fresh meat. From thence we coasted by + the Grand Canaria, and so to Teneriffe, and stayed there for the Lion's + Whelp, your Lordship's ship, and for Captain Amyas Preston and the rest. + But when after seven or eight days we found them not, we departed and + directed our course for Trinidad, with mine own ship, and a small barque + of Captain Cross's only; for we had before lost sight of a small galego on + the coast of Spain, which came with us from Plymouth. We arrived at + Trinidad the 22. of March, casting anchor at Point Curiapan, which the + Spaniards call Punta de Gallo, which is situate in eight degrees or + thereabouts. We abode there four or five days, and in all that time we + came not to the speech of any Indian or Spaniard. On the coast we saw a + fire, as we sailed from the Point Carao towards Curiapan, but for fear of + the Spaniards none durst come to speak with us. I myself coasted it in my + barge close aboard the shore and landed in every cove, the better to know + the island, while the ships kept the channel. From Curiapan after a few + days we turned up north-east to recover that place which the Spaniards + call Puerto de los Espanoles (now Port of Spain), and the inhabitants + Conquerabia; and as before, revictualling my barge, I left the ships and + kept by the shore, the better to come to speech with some of the + inhabitants, and also to understand the rivers, watering-places, and ports + of the island, which, as it is rudely done, my purpose is to send your + Lordship after a few days. From Curiapan I came to a port and seat of + Indians called Parico, where we found a fresh water river, but saw no + people. From thence I rowed to another port, called by the naturals Piche, + and by the Spaniards Tierra de Brea. In the way between both were divers + little brooks of fresh water, and one salt river that had store of oysters + upon the branches of the trees, and were very salt and well tasted. All + their oysters grow upon those boughs and sprays, and not on the ground; + the like is commonly seen in other places of the West Indies, and + elsewhere. This tree is described by Andrew Thevet, in his France + Antarctique, and the form figured in the book as a plant very strange; and + by Pliny in his twelfth book of his Natural History. But in this island, + as also in Guiana, there are very many of them. + </p> + <p> + At this point, called Tierra de Brea or Piche, there is that abundance of + stone pitch that all the ships of the world may be therewith laden from + thence; and we made trial of it in trimming our ships to be most excellent + good, and melteth not with the sun as the pitch of Norway, and therefore + for ships trading the south parts very profitable. From thence we went to + the mountain foot called Annaperima, and so passing the river Carone, on + which the Spanish city was seated, we met with our ships at Puerto de los + Espanoles or Conquerabia. + </p> + <p> + This island of Trinidad hath the form of a sheephook, and is but narrow; + the north part is very mountainous; the soil is very excellent, and will + bear sugar, ginger, or any other commodity that the Indies yield. It hath + store of deer, wild porks, fruit, fish, and fowl; it hath also for bread + sufficient maize, cassavi, and of those roots and fruits which are common + everywhere in the West Indies. It hath divers beasts which the Indies have + not; the Spaniards confessed that they found grains of gold in some of the + rivers; but they having a purpose to enter Guiana, the magazine of all + rich metals, cared not to spend time in the search thereof any further. + This island is called by the people thereof Cairi, and in it are divers + nations. Those about Parico are called Jajo, those at Punta de Carao are + of the Arwacas (Arawaks) and between Carao and Curiapan they are called + Salvajos. Between Carao and Punta de Galera are the Nepojos, and those + about the Spanish city term themselves Carinepagotes (Carib-people). Of + the rest of the nations, and of other ports and rivers, I leave to speak + here, being impertinent to my purpose, and mean to describe them as they + are situate in the particular plot and description of the island, three + parts whereof I coasted with my barge, that I might the better describe + it. + </p> + <p> + Meeting with the ships at Puerto de los Espanoles, we found at the + landing-place a company of Spaniards who kept a guard at the descent; and + they offering a sign of peace, I sent Captain Whiddon to speak with them, + whom afterwards to my great grief I left buried in the said island after + my return from Guiana, being a man most honest and valiant. The Spaniards + seemed to be desirous to trade with us, and to enter into terms of peace, + more for doubt of their own strength than for aught else; and in the end, + upon pledge, some of them came aboard. The same evening there stale also + aboard us in a small canoa two Indians, the one of them being a cacique or + lord of the people, called Cantyman, who had the year before been with + Captain Whiddon, and was of his acquaintance. By this Cantyman we + understood what strength the Spaniards had, how far it was to their city, + and of Don Antonio de Berreo, the governor, who was said to be slain in + his second attempt of Guiana, but was not. + </p> + <p> + While we remained at Puerto de los Espanoles some Spaniards came aboard us + to buy linen of the company, and such other things as they wanted, and + also to view our ships and company, all which I entertained kindly and + feasted after our manner. By means whereof I learned of one and another as + much of the estate of Guiana as I could, or as they knew; for those poor + soldiers having been many years without wine, a few draughts made them + merry, in which mood they vaunted of Guiana and the riches thereof, and + all what they knew of the ways and passages; myself seeming to purpose + nothing less than the entrance or discovery thereof, but bred in them an + opinion that I was bound only for the relief of those English which I had + planted in Virginia, whereof the bruit was come among them; which I had + performed in my return, if extremity of weather had not forced me from the + said coast. + </p> + <p> + I found occasions of staying in this place for two causes. The one was to + be revenged of Berreo, who the year before, 1594, had betrayed eight of + Captain Whiddon's men, and took them while he departed from them to seek + the Edward Bonaventure, which arrived at Trinidad the day before from the + East Indies: in whose absence Berreo sent a canoa aboard the pinnace only + with Indians and dogs inviting the company to go with them into the woods + to kill a deer. Who like wise men, in the absence of their captain + followed the Indians, but were no sooner one arquebus shot from the shore, + but Berreo's soldiers lying in ambush had them all, notwithstanding that + he had given his word to Captain Whiddon that they should take water and + wood safely. The other cause of my stay was, for that by discourse with + the Spaniards I daily learned more and more of Guiana, of the rivers and + passages, and of the enterprise of Berreo, by what means or fault he + failed, and how he meant to prosecute the same. + </p> + <p> + While we thus spent the time I was assured by another cacique of the north + side of the island, that Berreo had sent to Margarita and Cumana for + soldiers, meaning to have given me a cassado (blow) at parting, if it had + been possible. For although he had given order through all the island that + no Indian should come aboard to trade with me upon pain of hanging and + quartering (having executed two of them for the same, which I afterwards + found), yet every night there came some with most lamentable complaints of + his cruelty: how he had divided the island and given to every soldier a + part; that he made the ancient caciques, which were lords of the country, + to be their slaves; that he kept them in chains, and dropped their naked + bodies with burning bacon, and such other torments, which I found + afterwards to be true. For in the city, after I entered the same, there + were five of the lords or little kings, which they call caciques in the + West Indies, in one chain, almost dead of famine, and wasted with + torments. These are called in their own language acarewana, and now of + late since English, French, and Spanish, are come among them, they call + themselves captains, because they perceive that the chiefest of every ship + is called by that name. Those five captains in the chain were called + Wannawanare, Carroaori, Maquarima, Tarroopanama, and Aterima. So as both + to be revenged of the former wrong, as also considering that to enter + Guiana by small boats, to depart 400 or 500 miles from my ships, and to + leave a garrison in my back interested in the same enterprise, who also + daily expected supplies out of Spain, I should have savoured very much of + the ass; and therefore taking a time of most advantage, I set upon the + Corps du garde in the evening, and having put them to the sword, sent + Captain Caulfield onwards with sixty soldiers, and myself followed with + forty more, and so took their new city, which they called St. Joseph, by + break of day. They abode not any fight after a few shot, and all being + dismissed, but only Berreo and his companion (the Portuguese captain + Alvaro Jorge), I brought them with me aboard, and at the instance of the + Indians I set their new city of St. Joseph on fire. The same day arrived + Captain George Gifford with your lordship's ship, and Captain Keymis, whom + I lost on the coast of Spain, with the galego, and in them divers + gentlemen and others, which to our little army was a great comfort and + supply. + </p> + <p> + We then hasted away towards our purposed discovery, and first I called all + the captains of the island together that were enemies to the Spaniards; + for there were some which Berreo had brought out of other countries, and + planted there to eat out and waste those that were natural of the place. + And by my Indian interpreter, which I carried out of England, I made them + understand that I was the servant of a queen who was the great cacique of + the north, and a virgin, and had more caciqui under her than there were + trees in that island; that she was an enemy to the Castellani in respect + of their tyranny and oppression, and that she delivered all such nations + about her, as were by them oppressed; and having freed all the coast of + the northern world from their servitude, had sent me to free them also, + and withal to defend the country of Guiana from their invasion and + conquest. I shewed them her Majesty's picture, which they so admired and + honoured, as it had been easy to have brought them idolatrous thereof. The + like and a more large discourse I made to the rest of the nations, both in + my passing to Guiana and to those of the borders, so as in that part of + the world her Majesty is very famous and admirable; whom they now call + EZRABETA CASSIPUNA AQUEREWANA, which is as much as 'Elizabeth, the Great + Princess, or Greatest Commander.' This done, we left Puerto de los + Espanoles, and returned to Curiapan, and having Berreo my prisoner, I + gathered from him as much of Guiana as he knew. This Berreo is a gentleman + well descended, and had long served the Spanish king in Milan, Naples, the + Low Countries, and elsewhere, very valiant and liberal, and a gentleman of + great assuredness, and of a great heart. I used him according to his + estate and worth in all things I could, according to the small means I + had. + </p> + <p> + I sent Captain Whiddon the year before to get what knowledge he could of + Guiana: and the end of my journey at this time was to discover and enter + the same. But my intelligence was far from truth, for the country is + situate about 600 English miles further from the sea than I was made + believe it had been. Which afterwards understanding to be true by Berreo, + I kept it from the knowledge of my company, who else would never have been + brought to attempt the same. Of which 600 miles I passed 400, leaving my + ships so far from me at anchor in the sea, which was more of desire to + perform that discovery than of reason, especially having such poor and + weak vessels to transport ourselves in. For in the bottom of an old galego + which I caused to be fashioned like a galley, and in one barge, two + wherries, and a ship-boat of the Lion's Whelp, we carried 100 persons and + their victuals for a month in the same, being all driven to lie in the + rain and weather in the open air, in the burning sun, and upon the hard + boards, and to dress our meat, and to carry all manner of furniture in + them. Wherewith they were so pestered and unsavoury, that what with + victuals being most fish, with the wet clothes of so many men thrust + together, and the heat of the sun, I will undertake there was never any + prison in England that could be found more unsavoury and loathsome, + especially to myself, who had for many years before been dieted and cared + for in a sort far more differing. + </p> + <p> + If Captain Preston had not been persuaded that he should have come too + late to Trinidad to have found us there (for the month was expired which I + promised to tarry for him there ere he could recover the coast of Spain) + but that it had pleased God he might have joined with us, and that we had + entered the country but some ten days sooner ere the rivers were + overflown, we had adventured either to have gone to the great city of + Manoa, or at least taken so many of the other cities and towns nearer at + hand, as would have made a royal return. But it pleased not God so much to + favour me at this time. If it shall be my lot to prosecute the same, I + shall willingly spend my life therein. And if any else shall be enabled + thereunto, and conquer the same, I assure him thus much; he shall perform + more than ever was done in Mexico by Cortes, or in Peru by Pizarro, + whereof the one conquered the empire of Mutezuma, the other of Guascar and + Atabalipa. And whatsoever prince shall possess it, that prince shall be + lord of more gold, and of a more beautiful empire, and of more cities and + people, than either the king of Spain or the Great Turk. + </p> + <p> + But because there may arise many doubts, and how this empire of Guiana is + become so populous, and adorned with so many great cities, towns, temples, + and treasures, I thought good to make it known, that the emperor now + reigning is descended from those magnificent princes of Peru, of whose + large territories, of whose policies, conquests, edifices, and riches, + Pedro de Cieza, Francisco Lopez, and others have written large discourses. + For when Francisco Pizarro, Diego Almagro and others conquered the said + empire of Peru, and had put to death Atabalipa, son to Guayna Capac, which + Atabalipa had formerly caused his eldest brother Guascar to be slain, one + of the younger sons of Guayna Capac fled out of Peru, and took with him + many thousands of those soldiers of the empire called orejones ("having + large ears," the name given by the Spaniards to the Peruvian warriors, who + wore ear-pendants), and with those and many others which followed him, he + vanquished all that tract and valley of America which is situate between + the great river of Amazons and Baraquan, otherwise called Orenoque and + Maranon (Baraquan is the alternative name to Orenoque, Maranon to + Amazons). + </p> + <p> + The empire of Guiana is directly east from Peru towards the sea, and lieth + under the equinoctial line; and it hath more abundance of gold than any + part of Peru, and as many or more great cities than ever Peru had when it + flourished most. It is governed by the same laws, and the emperor and + people observe the same religion, and the same form and policies in + government as were used in Peru, not differing in any part. And I have + been assured by such of the Spaniards as have seen Manoa, the imperial + city of Guiana, which the Spaniards call El Dorado, that for the + greatness, for the riches, and for the excellent seat, it far exceedeth + any of the world, at least of so much of the world as is known to the + Spanish nation. It is founded upon a lake of salt water of 200 leagues + long, like unto Mare Caspium. And if we compare it to that of Peru, and + but read the report of Francisco Lopez and others, it will seem more than + credible; and because we may judge of the one by the other, I thought good + to insert part of the 120. chapter of Lopez in his General History of the + Indies, wherein he describeth the court and magnificence of Guayna Capac, + ancestor to the emperor of Guiana, whose very words are these:— + </p> + <p> + "Todo el servicio de su casa, mesa, y cocina era de oro y de plata, y + cuando menos de plata y cobre, por mas recio. Tenia en su recamara + estatuas huecas de oro, que parescian gigantes, y las figuras al propio y + tamano de cuantos animales, aves, arboles, y yerbas produce la tierra, y + de cuantos peces cria la mar y agua de sus reynos. Tenia asimesmo sogas, + costales, cestas, y troxes de oro y plata; rimeros de palos de oro, que + pareciesen lena rajada para quemar. En fin no habia cosa en su tierra, que + no la tuviese de oro contrahecha; y aun dizen, que tenian los Ingas un + verjel en una isla cerca de la Puna, donde se iban a holgar, cuando + querian mar, que tenia la hortaliza, las flores, y arboles de oro y plata; + invencion y grandeza hasta entonces nunca vista. Allende de todo esto, + tenia infinitisima cantidad de plata y oro por labrar en el Cuzco, que se + perdio por la muerte de Guascar; ca los Indios lo escondieron, viendo que + los Espanoles se lo tomaban, y enviaban a Espana." + </p> + <p> + That is, "All the vessels of his house, table, and kitchen, were of gold + and silver, and the meanest of silver and copper for strength and hardness + of metal. He had in his wardrobe hollow statues of gold which seemed + giants, and the figures in proportion and bigness of all the beasts, + birds, trees, and herbs, that the earth bringeth forth; and of all the + fishes that the sea or waters of his kingdom breedeth. He had also ropes, + budgets, chests, and troughs of gold and silver, heaps of billets of gold, + that seemed wood marked out (split into logs) to burn. Finally, there was + nothing in his country whereof he had not the counterfeit in gold. Yea, + and they say, the Ingas had a garden of pleasure in an island near Puna, + where they went to recreate themselves, when they would take the air of + the sea, which had all kinds of garden-herbs, flowers, and trees of gold + and silver; an invention and magnificence till then never seen. Besides + all this, he had an infinite quantity of silver and gold unwrought in + Cuzco, which was lost by the death of Guascar, for the Indians hid it, + seeing that the Spaniards took it, and sent it into Spain." + </p> + <p> + And in the 117. chapter; Francisco Pizarro caused the gold and silver of + Atabalipa to be weighed after he had taken it, which Lopez setteth down in + these words following:—"Hallaron cincuenta y dos mil marcos de buena + plata, y un millon y trecientos y veinte y seis mil y quinientos pesos de + oro." Which is, "They found 52,000 marks of good silver, and 1,326,500 + pesos of gold." Now, although these reports may seem strange, yet if we + consider the many millions which are daily brought out of Peru into Spain, + we may easily believe the same. For we find that by the abundant treasure + of that country the Spanish king vexes all the princes of Europe, and is + become, in a few years, from a poor king of Castile, the greatest monarch + of this part of the world, and likely every day to increase if other + princes forslow the good occasions offered, and suffer him to add this + empire to the rest, which by far exceedeth all the rest. If his gold now + endanger us, he will then be unresistible. Such of the Spaniards as + afterwards endeavoured the conquest thereof, whereof there have been many, + as shall be declared hereafter, thought that this Inga, of whom this + emperor now living is descended, took his way by the river of Amazons, by + that branch which is called Papamene (The Papamene is a tributary not of + the Amazon river but of the Meta, one of the principal tributaries of the + Orinoco). For by that way followed Orellana, by the commandment of Gonzalo + Pizarro, in the year 1542, whose name the river also beareth this day. + Which is also by others called Maranon, although Andrew Thevet doth affirm + that between Maranon and Amazons there are 120 leagues; but sure it is + that those rivers have one head and beginning, and the Maranon, which + Thevet describeth, is but a branch of Amazons or Orellana, of which I will + speak more in another place. It was attempted by Ordas; but it is now + little less than 70 years since that Diego Ordas, a Knight of the Order of + Santiago, attempted the same; and it was in the year 1542 that Orellana + discovered the river of Amazons; but the first that ever saw Manoa was + Juan Martinez, master of the munition to Ordas. At a port called Morequito + (probably San Miguel), in Guiana, there lieth at this day a great anchor + of Ordas his ship. And this port is some 300 miles within the land, upon + the great river of Orenoque. I rested at this port four days, twenty days + after I left the ships at Curiapan. + </p> + <p> + The relation of this Martinez, who was the first that discovered Manoa, + his success, and end, is to be seen in the Chancery of St. Juan de Puerto + Rico, whereof Berreo had a copy, which appeared to be the greatest + encouragement as well to Berreo as to others that formerly attempted the + discovery and conquest. Orellana, after he failed of the discovery of + Guiana by the said river of Amazons, passed into Spain, and there obtained + a patent of the king for the invasion and conquest, but died by sea about + the islands; and his fleet being severed by tempest, the action for that + time proceeded not. Diego Ordas followed the enterprise, and departed + Spain with 600 soldiers and thirty horse. Who, arriving on the coast of + Guiana, was slain in a mutiny, with the most part of such as favoured him, + as also of the rebellious part, insomuch as his ships perished and few or + none returned; neither was it certainly known what became of the said + Ordas until Berreo found the anchor of his ship in the river of Orenoque; + but it was supposed, and so it is written by Lopez, that he perished on + the seas, and of other writers diversely conceived and reported. And + hereof it came that Martinez entered so far within the land, and arrived + at that city of Inga the emperor; for it chanced that while Ordas with his + army rested at the port of Morequito (who was either the first or second + that attempted Guiana), by some negligence the whole store of powder + provided for the service was set on fire, and Martinez, having the chief + charge, was condemned by the General Ordas to be executed forthwith. + Martinez, being much favoured by the soldiers, had all the means possible + procured for his life; but it could not be obtained in other sort than + this, that he should be set into a canoa alone, without any victual, only + with his arms, and so turned loose into the great river. But it pleased + God that the canoa was carried down the stream, and certain of the + Guianians met it the same evening; and, having not at any time seen any + Christian nor any man of that colour, they carried Martinez into the land + to be wondered at, and so from town to town, until he came to the great + city of Manoa, the seat and residence of Inga the emperor. The emperor, + after he had beheld him, knew him to be a Christian, for it was not long + before that his brethren Guascar and Atabalipa were vanquished by the + Spaniards in Peru: and caused him to be lodged in his palace, and well + entertained. He lived seven months in Manoa, but was not suffered to + wander into the country anywhere. He was also brought thither all the way + blindfold, led by the Indians, until he came to the entrance of Manoa + itself, and was fourteen or fifteen days in the passage. He avowed at his + death that he entered the city at noon, and then they uncovered his face; + and that he travelled all that day till night through the city, and the + next day from sun rising to sun setting, ere he came to the palace of + Inga. After that Martinez had lived seven months in Manoa, and began to + understand the language of the country, Inga asked him whether he desired + to return into his own country, or would willingly abide with him. But + Martinez, not desirous to stay, obtained the favour of Inga to depart; + with whom he sent divers Guianians to conduct him to the river of + Orenoque, all loaden with as much gold as they could carry, which he gave + to Martinez at his departure. But when he was arrived near the river's + side, the borderers which are called Orenoqueponi (poni is a Carib + postposition meaning "on") robbed him and his Guianians of all the + treasure (the borderers being at that time at wars, which Inga had not + conquered) save only of two great bottles of gourds, which were filled + with beads of gold curiously wrought, which those Orenoqueponi thought had + been no other thing than his drink or meat, or grain for food, with which + Martinez had liberty to pass. And so in canoas he fell down from the river + of Orenoque to Trinidad, and from thence to Margarita, and so to St. Juan + del Puerto Rico; where, remaining a long time for passage into Spain, he + died. In the time of his extreme sickness, and when he was without hope of + life, receiving the sacrament at the hands of his confessor, he delivered + these things, with the relation of his travels, and also called for his + calabazas or gourds of the gold beads, which he gave to the church and + friars, to be prayed for. + </p> + <p> + This Martinez was he that christened the city of Manoa by the name of El + Dorado, and, as Berreo informed me, upon this occasion, those Guianians, + and also the borderers, and all other in that tract which I have seen, are + marvellous great drunkards; in which vice I think no nation can compare + with them; and at the times of their solemn feasts, when the emperor + carouseth with his captains, tributaries, and governors, the manner is + thus. All those that pledge him are first stripped naked and their bodies + anointed all over with a kind of white balsamum (by them called curca), of + which there is great plenty, and yet very dear amongst them, and it is of + all other the most precious, whereof we have had good experience. When + they are anointed all over, certain servants of the emperor, having + prepared gold made into fine powder, blow it through hollow canes upon + their naked bodies, until they be all shining from the foot to the head; + and in this sort they sit drinking by twenties and hundreds, and continue + in drunkenness sometimes six or seven days together. The same is also + confirmed by a letter written into Spain which was intercepted, which + Master Robert Dudley told me he had seen. Upon this sight, and for the + abundance of gold which he saw in the city, the images of gold in their + temples, the plates, armours, and shields of gold which they use in the + wars, he called it El Dorado. + </p> + <p> + After the death of Ordas and Martinez, and after Orellana, who was + employed by Gonzalo Pizarro, one Pedro de Orsua, a knight of Navarre, + attempted Guiana, taking his way into Peru, and built his brigandines upon + a river called Oia, which riseth to the southward of Quito, and is very + great. This river falleth into Amazons, by which Orsua with his companies + descended, and came out of that province which is called Motilones + ("friars"—Indians so named from their cropped heads); and it seemeth + to me that this empire is reserved for her Majesty and the English nation, + by reason of the hard success which all these and other Spaniards found in + attempting the same, whereof I will speak briefly, though impertinent in + some sort to my purpose. This Pedro de Orsua had among his troops a + Biscayan called Aguirre, a man meanly born, who bare no other office than + a sergeant or alferez (al-faris, Arab.—horseman, mounted officer): + but after certain months, when the soldiers were grieved with travels and + consumed with famine, and that no entrance could be found by the branches + or body of Amazons, this Aguirre raised a mutiny, of which he made himself + the head, and so prevailed as he put Orsua to the sword and all his + followers, taking on him the whole charge and commandment, with a purpose + not only to make himself emperor of Guiana, but also of Peru and of all + that side of the West Indies. He had of his party 700 soldiers, and of + those many promised to draw in other captains and companies, to deliver up + towns and forts in Peru; but neither finding by the said river any passage + into Guiana, nor any possibility to return towards Peru by the same + Amazons, by reason that the descent of the river made so great a current, + he was enforced to disemboque at the mouth of the said Amazons, which + cannot be less than 1,000 leagues from the place where they embarked. From + thence he coasted the land till he arrived at Margarita to the north of + Mompatar, which is at this day called Puerto de Tyranno, for that he there + slew Don Juan de Villa Andreda, Governor of Margarita, who was father to + Don Juan Sarmiento, Governor of Margarita when Sir John Burgh landed there + and attempted the island. Aguirre put to the sword all other in the island + that refused to be of his party, and took with him certain cimarrones + (fugitive slaves) and other desperate companions. From thence he went to + Cumana and there slew the governor, and dealt in all as at Margarita. He + spoiled all the coast of Caracas and the province of Venezuela and of Rio + de la Hacha; and, as I remember, it was the same year that Sir John + Hawkins sailed to St. Juan de Ullua in the Jesus of Lubeck; for himself + told me that he met with such a one upon the coast, that rebelled, and had + sailed down all the river of Amazons. Aguirre from thence landed about + Santa Marta and sacked it also, putting to death so many as refused to be + his followers, purposing to invade Nuevo Reyno de Granada and to sack + Pamplona, Merida, Lagrita, Tunja, and the rest of the cities of Nuevo + Reyno, and from thence again to enter Peru; but in a fight in the said + Nuevo Reyno he was overthrown, and, finding no way to escape, he first put + to the sword his own children, foretelling them that they should not live + to be defamed or upbraided by the Spaniards after his death, who would + have termed them the children of a traitor or tyrant; and that, sithence + he could not make them princes, he would yet deliver them from shame and + reproach. These were the ends and tragedies of Ordas, Martinez, Orellana, + Orsua, and Aguirre. Also soon after Ordas followed Jeronimo Ortal de + Saragosa, with 130 soldiers; who failing his entrance by sea, was cast + with the current on the coast of Paria, and peopled about S. Miguel de + Neveri. It was then attempted by Don Pedro de Silva, a Portuguese of the + family of Ruy Gomez de Silva, and by the favour which Ruy Gomez had with + the king he was set out. But he also shot wide of the mark; for being + departed from Spain with his fleet, he entered by Maranon or Amazons, + where by the nations of the river and by the Amazons, he was utterly + overthrown, and himself and all his army defeated; only seven escaped, and + of those but two returned. + </p> + <p> + After him came Pedro Hernandez de Serpa, and landed at Cumana, in the West + Indies, taking his journey by land towards Orenoque, which may be some 120 + leagues; but ere he came to the borders of the said river, he was set upon + by a nation of the Indians, called Wikiri, and overthrown in such sort, + that of 300 soldiers, horsemen, many Indians, and negroes, there returned + but eighteen. Others affirm that he was defeated in the very entrance of + Guiana, at the first civil town of the empire called Macureguarai. Captain + Preston, in taking Santiago de Leon (which was by him and his companies + very resolutely performed, being a great town, and far within the land) + held a gentleman prisoner, who died in his ship, that was one of the + company of Hernandez de Serpa, and saved among those that escaped; who + witnessed what opinion is held among the Spaniards thereabouts of the + great riches of Guiana, and El Dorado, the city of Inga. Another Spaniard + was brought aboard me by Captain Preston, who told me in the hearing of + himself and divers other gentlemen, that he met with Berreo's campmaster + at Caracas, when he came from the borders of Guiana, and that he saw with + him forty of most pure plates of gold, curiously wrought, and swords of + Guiana decked and inlaid with gold, feathers garnished with gold, and + divers rarities, which he carried to the Spanish king. + </p> + <p> + After Hernandez de Serpa, it was undertaken by the Adelantado, Don + Gonzalez Ximenes de Quesada, who was one of the chiefest in the conquest + of Nuevo Reyno, whose daughter and heir Don Antonio de Berreo married. + Gonzalez sought the passage also by the river called Papamene, which + riseth by Quito, in Peru, and runneth south-east 100 leagues, and then + falleth into Amazons. But he also, failing the entrance, returned with the + loss of much labour and cost. I took one Captain George, a Spaniard, that + followed Gonzalez in this enterprise. Gonzalez gave his daughter to + Berreo, taking his oath and honour to follow the enterprise to the last of + his substance and life. Who since, as he hath sworn to me, hath spent + 300,000 ducats in the same, and yet never could enter so far into the land + as myself with that poor troop, or rather a handful of men, being in all + about 100 gentlemen, soldiers, rowers, boat-keepers, boys, and of all + sorts; neither could any of the forepassed undertakers, nor Berreo + himself, discover the country, till now lately by conference with an + ancient king, called Carapana (Caribana, Carib land, was an old European + name for the Atlantic coast near the mouth of the Orinoco, and hence was + applied to one of its chiefs. Berrio called this district "Emeria"), he + got the true light thereof. For Berreo came about 1,500 miles ere he + understood aught, or could find any passage or entrance into any part + thereof; yet he had experience of all these fore-named, and divers others, + and was persuaded of their errors and mistakings. Berreo sought it by the + river Cassanar, which falleth into a great river called Pato: Pato falleth + into Meta, and Meta into Baraquan, which is also called Orenoque. He took + his journey from Nuevo Reyno de Granada, where he dwelt, having the + inheritance of Gonzalez Ximenes in those parts; he was followed with 700 + horse, he drove with him 1,000 head of cattle, he had also many women, + Indians, and slaves. How all these rivers cross and encounter, how the + country lieth and is bordered, the passage of Ximenes and Berreo, mine own + discovery, and the way that I entered, with all the rest of the nations + and rivers, your lordship shall receive in a large chart or map, which I + have not yet finished, and which I shall most humbly pray your lordship to + secrete, and not to suffer it to pass your own hands; for by a draught + thereof all may be prevented by other nations; for I know it is this very + year sought by the French, although by the way that they now take, I fear + it not much. It was also told me ere I departed England, that Villiers, + the Admiral, was in preparation for the planting of Amazons, to which + river the French have made divers voyages, and returned much gold and + other rarities. I spake with a captain of a French ship that came from + thence, his ship riding in Falmouth the same year that my ships came first + from Virginia; there was another this year in Helford, that also came from + thence, and had been fourteen months at an anchor in Amazons; which were + both very rich. + </p> + <p> + Although, as I am persuaded, Guiana cannot be entered that way, yet no + doubt the trade of gold from thence passeth by branches of rivers into the + river of Amazons, and so it doth on every hand far from the country + itself; for those Indians of Trinidad have plates of gold from Guiana, and + those cannibals of Dominica which dwell in the islands by which our ships + pass yearly to the West Indies, also the Indians of Paria, those Indians + called Tucaris, Chochi, Apotomios, Cumanagotos, and all those other + nations inhabiting near about the mountains that run from Paria through + the province of Venezuela, and in Maracapana, and the cannibals of + Guanipa, the Indians called Assawai, Coaca, Ajai, and the rest (all which + shall be described in my description as they are situate) have plates of + gold of Guiana. And upon the river of Amazons, Thevet writeth that the + people wear croissants of gold, for of that form the Guianians most + commonly make them; so as from Dominica to Amazons, which is above 250 + leagues, all the chief Indians in all parts wear of those plates of + Guiana. Undoubtedly those that trade Amazons return much gold, which (as + is aforesaid) cometh by trade from Guiana, by some branch of a river that + falleth from the country into Amazons, and either it is by the river which + passeth by the nations called Tisnados, or by Caripuna. + </p> + <p> + I made enquiry amongst the most ancient and best travelled of the + Orenoqueponi, and I had knowledge of all the rivers between Orenoque and + Amazons, and was very desirous to understand the truth of those warlike + women, because of some it is believed, of others not. And though I digress + from my purpose, yet I will set down that which hath been delivered me for + truth of those women, and I spake with a cacique, or lord of people, that + told me he had been in the river, and beyond it also. The nations of these + women are on the south side of the river in the provinces of Topago, and + their chiefest strengths and retracts are in the islands situate on the + south side of the entrance, some 60 leagues within the mouth of the said + river. The memories of the like women are very ancient as well in Africa + as in Asia. In Africa those that had Medusa for queen; others in Scythia, + near the rivers of Tanais and Thermodon. We find, also, that Lampedo and + Marthesia were queens of the Amazons. In many histories they are verified + to have been, and in divers ages and provinces; but they which are not far + from Guiana do accompany with men but once in a year, and for the time of + one month, which I gather by their relation, to be in April; and that time + all kings of the borders assemble, and queens of the Amazons; and after + the queens have chosen, the rest cast lots for their valentines. This one + month they feast, dance, and drink of their wines in abundance; and the + moon being done they all depart to their own provinces. They are said to + be very cruel and bloodthirsty, especially to such as offer to invade + their territories. These Amazons have likewise great store of these plates + of gold, which they recover by exchange chiefly for a kind of green + stones, which the Spaniards call piedras hijadas, and we use for + spleen-stones (stones reduced to powder and taken internally to cure + maladies of the spleen); and for the disease of the stone we also esteem + them. Of these I saw divers in Guiana; and commonly every king or cacique + hath one, which their wives for the most part wear, and they esteem them + as great jewels. + </p> + <p> + But to return to the enterprise of Berreo, who, as I have said, departed + from Nuevo Reyno with 700 horse, besides the provisions above rehearsed. + He descended by the river called Cassanar, which riseth in Nuevo Reyno out + of the mountains by the city of Tunja, from which mountain also springeth + Pato; both which fall into the great river of Meta, and Meta riseth from a + mountain joining to Pamplona, in the same Nuevo Reyno de Granada. These, + as also Guaiare, which issueth out of the mountains by Timana, fall all + into Baraquan, and are but of his heads; for at their coming together they + lose their names, and Baraquan farther down is also rebaptized by the name + of Orenoque. On the other side of the city and hills of Timana riseth Rio + Grande, which falleth into the sea by Santa Marta. By Cassanar first, and + so into Meta, Berreo passed, keeping his horsemen on the banks, where the + country served them for to march; and where otherwise, he was driven to + embark them in boats which he builded for the purpose, and so came with + the current down the river of Meta, and so into Baraquan. After he entered + that great and mighty river, he began daily to lose of his companies both + men and horse; for it is in many places violently swift, and hath forcible + eddies, many sands, and divers islands sharp pointed with rocks. But after + one whole year, journeying for the most part by river, and the rest by + land, he grew daily to fewer numbers; from both by sickness, and by + encountering with the people of those regions through which he travelled, + his companies were much wasted, especially by divers encounters with the + Amapaians (Amapaia was Berrio's name for the Orinoco valley above the + Caura river). And in all this time he never could learn of any passage + into Guiana, nor any news or fame thereof, until he came to a further + border of the said Amapaia, eight days' journey from the river Caroli (the + Caroni river, the first great affluent of the Orinoco on the south, about + 180 miles from the sea), which was the furthest river that he entered. + Among those of Amapaia, Guiana was famous; but few of these people + accosted Berreo, or would trade with him the first three months of the six + which he sojourned there. This Amapaia is also marvellous rich in gold, as + both Berreo confessed and those of Guiana with whom I had most conference; + and is situate upon Orenoque also. In this country Berreo lost sixty of + his best soldiers, and most of all his horse that remained in his former + year's travel. But in the end, after divers encounters with those nations, + they grew to peace, and they presented Berreo with ten images of fine gold + among divers other plates and croissants, which, as he sware to me, and + divers other gentlemen, were so curiously wrought, as he had not seen the + like either in Italy, Spain, or the Low Countries; and he was resolved + that when they came to the hands of the Spanish king, to whom he had sent + them by his camp-master, they would appear very admirable, especially + being wrought by such a nation as had no iron instruments at all, nor any + of those helps which our goldsmiths have to work withal. The particular + name of the people in Amapaia which gave him these pieces, are called + Anebas, and the river of Orenoque at that place is about twelve English + miles broad, which may be from his outfall into the sea 700 or 800 miles. + </p> + <p> + This province of Amapaia is a very low and a marish ground near the river; + and by reason of the red water which issueth out in small branches through + the fenny and boggy ground, there breed divers poisonful worms and + serpents. And the Spaniards not suspecting, nor in any sort foreknowing + the danger, were infected with a grievous kind of flux by drinking + thereof, and even the very horses poisoned therewith; insomuch as at the + end of the six months that they abode there, of all their troops there + were not left above 120 soldiers, and neither horse nor cattle. For Berreo + hoped to have found Guiana be 1,000 miles nearer than it fell out to be in + the end; by means whereof they sustained much want, and much hunger, + oppressed with grievous diseases, and all the miseries that could be + imagined. I demanded of those in Guiana that had travelled Amapaia, how + they lived with that tawny or red water when they travelled thither; and + they told me that after the sun was near the middle of the sky, they used + to fill their pots and pitchers with that water, but either before that + time or towards the setting of the sun it was dangerous to drink of, and + in the night strong poison. I learned also of divers other rivers of that + nature among them, which were also, while the sun was in the meridian, + very safe to drink, and in the morning, evening, and night, wonderful + dangerous and infective. From this province Berreo hasted away as soon as + the spring and beginning of summer appeared, and sought his entrance on + the borders of Orenoque on the south side; but there ran a ledge of so + high and impassable mountains, as he was not able by any means to march + over them, continuing from the east sea into which Orenoque falleth, even + to Quito in Peru. Neither had he means to carry victual or munition over + those craggy, high, and fast hills, being all woody, and those so thick + and spiny, and so full or prickles, thorns, and briars, as it is + impossible to creep through them. He had also neither friendship among the + people, nor any interpreter to persuade or treat with them; and more, to + his disadvantage, the caciques and kings of Amapaia had given knowledge of + his purpose to the Guianians, and that he sought to sack and conquer the + empire, for the hope of their so great abundance and quantities of gold. + He passed by the mouths of many great rivers which fell into Orenoque both + from the north and south, which I forbear to name, for tediousness, and + because they are more pleasing in describing than reading. + </p> + <p> + Berreo affirmed that there fell an hundred rivers into Orenoque from the + north and south: whereof the least was as big as Rio Grande (the + Magdalena), that passed between Popayan and Nuevo Reyno de Granada, Rio + Grande being esteemed one of the renowned rivers in all the West Indies, + and numbered among the great rivers of the world. But he knew not the + names of any of these, but Caroli only; neither from what nations they + descended, neither to what provinces they led, for he had no means to + discourse with the inhabitants at any time; neither was he curious in + these things, being utterly unlearned, and not knowing the east from the + west. But of all these I got some knowledge, and of many more, partly by + mine own travel, and the rest by conference; of some one I learned one, of + others the rest, having with me an Indian that spake many languages, and + that of Guiana (the Carib) naturally. I sought out all the aged men, and + such as were greatest travellers. And by the one and the other I came to + understand the situations, the rivers, the kingdoms from the east sea to + the borders of Peru, and from Orenoque southward as far as Amazons or + Maranon, and the regions of Marinatambal (north coasts of Brazil), and of + all the kings of provinces, and captains of towns and villages, how they + stood in terms of peace or war, and which were friends or enemies the one + with the other; without which there can be neither entrance nor conquest + in those parts, nor elsewhere. For by the dissension between Guascar and + Atabalipa, Pizarro conquered Peru, and by the hatred that the Tlaxcallians + bare to Mutezuma, Cortes was victorious over Mexico; without which both + the one and the other had failed of their enterprise, and of the great + honour and riches which they attained unto. + </p> + <p> + Now Berreo began to grow into despair, and looked for no other success + than his predecessor in this enterprise; until such time as he arrived at + the province of Emeria towards the east sea and mouth of the river, where + he found a nation of people very favourable, and the country full of all + manner of victual. The king of this land is called Carapana, a man very + wise, subtle, and of great experience, being little less than an hundred + years old. In his youth he was sent by his father into the island of + Trinidad, by reason of civil war among themselves, and was bred at a + village in that island, called Parico. At that place in his youth he had + seen many Christians, both French and Spanish, and went divers times with + the Indians of Trinidad to Margarita and Cumana, in the West Indies, for + both those places have ever been relieved with victual from Trinidad: by + reason whereof he grew of more understanding, and noted the difference of + the nations, comparing the strength and arms of his country with those of + the Christians, and ever after temporised so as whosoever else did amiss, + or was wasted by contention, Carapana kept himself and his country in + quiet and plenty. He also held peace with the Caribs or cannibals, his + neighbours, and had free trade with all nations, whosoever else had war. + </p> + <p> + Berreo sojourned and rested his weak troop in the town of Carapana six + weeks, and from him learned the way and passage to Guiana, and the riches + and magnificence thereof. But being then utterly unable to proceed, he + determined to try his fortune another year, when he had renewed his + provisions, and regathered more force, which he hoped for as well out of + Spain as from Nuevo Reyno, where he had left his son Don Antonio Ximenes + to second him upon the first notice given of his entrance; and so for the + present embarked himself in canoas, and by the branches of Orenoque + arrived at Trinidad, having from Carapana sufficient pilots to conduct + him. From Trinidad he coasted Paria, and so recovered Margarita; and + having made relation to Don Juan Sarmiento, the Governor, of his + proceeding, and persuaded him of the riches of Guiana, he obtained from + thence fifty soldiers, promising presently to return to Carapana, and so + into Guiana. But Berreo meant nothing less at that time; for he wanted + many provisions necessary for such an enterprise, and therefore departed + from Margarita, seated himself in Trinidad, and from thence sent his + camp-master and his sergeant-major back to the borders to discover the + nearest passage into the empire, as also to treat with the borderers, and + to draw them to his party and love; without which, he knew he could + neither pass safely, nor in any sort be relieved with victual or aught + else. Carapana directed his company to a king called Morequito, assuring + them that no man could deliver so much Guiana as Morequito could, and that + his dwelling was but five days' journey from Macureguarai, the first civil + town of Guiana. + </p> + <p> + Now your lordship shall understand that this Morequito, one of the + greatest lords or kings of the borders of Guiana, had two or three years + before been at Cumana and at Margarita, in the West Indies, with great + store of plates of gold, which he carried to exchange for such other + things as he wanted in his own country, and was daily feasted, and + presented by the governors of those places, and held amongst them some two + months. In which time one Vides, Governor of Cumana, won him to be his + conductor into Guiana, being allured by those croissants and images of + gold which he brought with him to trade, as also by the ancient fame and + magnificence of El Dorado; whereupon Vides sent into Spain for a patent to + discover and conquer Guiana, not knowing of the precedence of Berreo's + patent; which, as Berreo affirmeth, was signed before that of Vidas. So as + when Vides understood of Berreo and that he had made entrance into that + territory, and foregone his desire and hope, it was verily thought that + Vides practised with Morequito to hinder and disturb Berreo in all he + could, and not to suffer him to enter through his seignory, nor any of his + companies; neither to victual, nor guide them in any sort. For Vides, + Governor of Cumana, and Berreo, were become mortal enemies, as well for + that Berreo had gotten Trinidad into his patent with Guiana, as also in + that he was by Berreo prevented in the journey of Guiana itself. Howsoever + it was, I know not, but Morequito for a time dissembled his disposition, + suffered ten Spaniards and a friar, which Berreo had sent to discover + Manoa, to travel through his country, gave them a guide for Macureguarai, + the first town of civil and apparelled people, from whence they had other + guides to bring them to Manoa, the great city of Inga; and being furnished + with those things which they had learned of Carapana were of most price in + Guiana, went onward, and in eleven days arrived at Manoa, as Berreo + affirmeth for certain; although I could not be assured thereof by the lord + which now governeth the province of Morequito, for he told me that they + got all the gold they had in other towns on this side Manoa, there being + many very great and rich, and (as he said) built like the towns of + Christians, with many rooms. + </p> + <p> + When these ten Spaniards were returned, and ready to put out of the border + of Aromaia (the district below the Caroni river), the people of Morequito + set upon them, and slew them all but one that swam the river, and took + from them to the value of 40,000 pesos of gold; and one of them only lived + to bring the news to Berreo, that both his nine soldiers and holy father + were benighted in the said province. I myself spake with the captains of + Morequito that slew them, and was at the place where it was executed. + Berreo, enraged herewithal, sent all the strength he could make into + Aromaia, to be revenged of him, his people, and country. But Morequito, + suspecting the same, fled over Orenoque, and through the territories of + the Saima and Wikiri recovered Cumana, where he thought himself very safe, + with Vides the governor. But Berreo sending for him in the king's name, + and his messengers finding him in the house of one Fajardo, on the sudden, + ere he was suspected, so as he could not then be conveyed away, Vides + durst not deny him, as well to avoid the suspicion of the practice, as + also for that an holy father was slain by him and his people. Morequito + offered Fajardo the weight of three quintals in gold, to let him escape; + but the poor Guianian, betrayed on all sides, was delivered to the + camp-master of Berreo, and was presently executed. + </p> + <p> + After the death of this Morequito, the soldiers of Berreo spoiled his + territory and took divers prisoners. Among others they took the uncle of + Morequito, called Topiawari, who is now king of Aromaia, whose son I + brought with me into England, and is a man of great understanding and + policy; he is above an hundred years old, and yet is of a very able body. + The Spaniards led him in a chain seventeen days, and made him their guide + from place to place between his country and Emeria, the province of + Carapana aforesaid, and he was at last redeemed for an hundred plates of + gold, and divers stones called piedras hijadas, or spleen-stones. Now + Berreo for executing of Morequito, and other cruelties, spoils, and + slaughters done in Aromaia, hath lost the love of the Orenoqueponi, and of + all the borderers, and dare not send any of his soldiers any further into + the land than to Carapana, which he called the port of Guiana; but from + thence by the help of Carapana he had trade further into the country, and + always appointed ten Spaniards to reside in Carapana's town (the Spanish + settlement of Santo Tome de la Guyana, founded by Berrio in 1591 or 1592, + but represented by Raleigh as an Indian pueblo), by whose favour, and by + being conducted by his people, those ten searched the country thereabouts, + as well for mines as for other trades and commodities. + </p> + <p> + They also have gotten a nephew of Morequito, whom they have christened and + named Don Juan, of whom they have great hope, endeavouring by all means to + establish him in the said province. Among many other trades, those + Spaniards used canoas to pass to the rivers of Barema, Pawroma, and + Dissequebe (Essequibo), which are on the south side of the mouth of + Orenoque, and there buy women and children from the cannibals, which are + of that barbarous nature, as they will for three or four hatchets sell the + sons and daughters of their own brethren and sisters, and for somewhat + more even their own daughters. Hereof the Spaniards make great profit; for + buying a maid of twelve or thirteen years for three or four hatchets, they + sell them again at Margarita in the West Indies for fifty and an hundred + pesos, which is so many crowns. + </p> + <p> + The master of my ship, John Douglas, took one of the canoas which came + laden from thence with people to be sold, and the most of them escaped; + yet of those he brought, there was one as well favoured and as well shaped + as ever I saw any in England; and afterwards I saw many of them, which but + for their tawny colour may be compared to any in Europe. They also trade + in those rivers for bread of cassavi, of which they buy an hundred pound + weight for a knife, and sell it at Margarita for ten pesos. They also + recover great store of cotton, Brazil wood, and those beds which they call + hamacas or Brazil beds, wherein in hot countries all the Spaniards use to + lie commonly, and in no other, neither did we ourselves while we were + there. By means of which trades, for ransom of divers of the Guianians, + and for exchange of hatchets and knives, Berreo recovered some store of + gold plates, eagles of gold, and images of men and divers birds, and + dispatched his camp-master for Spain, with all that he had gathered, + therewith to levy soldiers, and by the show thereof to draw others to the + love of the enterprise. And having sent divers images as well of men as + beasts, birds, and fishes, so curiously wrought in gold, he doubted not + but to persuade the king to yield to him some further help, especially for + that this land hath never been sacked, the mines never wrought, and in the + Indies their works were well spent, and the gold drawn out with great + labour and charge. He also despatched messengers to his son in Nuevo Reyno + to levy all the forces he could, and to come down the river Orenoque to + Emeria, the province of Carapana, to meet him; he had also sent to + Santiago de Leon on the coast of the Caracas, to buy horses and mules. + </p> + <p> + After I had thus learned of his proceedings past and purposed, I told him + that I had resolved to see Guiana, and that it was the end of my journey, + and the cause of my coming to Trinidad, as it was indeed, and for that + purpose I sent Jacob Whiddon the year before to get intelligence: with + whom Berreo himself had speech at that time, and remembered how + inquisitive Jacob Whiddon was of his proceedings, and of the country of + Guiana. Berreo was stricken into a great melancholy and sadness, and used + all the arguments he could to dissuade me; and also assured the gentlemen + of my company that it would be labour lost, and that they should suffer + many miseries if they proceeded. And first he delivered that I could not + enter any of the rivers with any bark or pinnace, or hardly with any + ship's boat, it was so low, sandy, and full of flats, and that his + companies were daily grounded in their canoes, which drew but twelve + inches water. He further said that none of the country would come to speak + with us, but would all fly; and if we followed them to their dwellings, + they would burn their own towns. And besides that, the way was long, the + winter at hand, and that the rivers beginning once to swell, it was + impossible to stem the current; and that we could not in those small boats + by any means carry victuals for half the time, and that (which indeed most + discouraged my company) the kings and lords of all the borders of Guiana + had decreed that none of them should trade with any Christians for gold, + because the same would be their own overthrow, and that for the love of + gold the Christians meant to conquer and dispossess them of all together. + </p> + <p> + Many and the most of these I found to be true; but yet I resolving to make + trial of whatsoever happened, directed Captain George Gifford, my + Vice-Admiral, to take the Lion's Whelp, and Captain Caulfield his bark, to + turn to the eastward, against the mouth of a river called Capuri, whose + entrance I had before sent Captain Whiddon and John Douglas the master to + discover. Who found some nine foot water or better upon the flood, and + five at low water: to whom I had given instructions that they should + anchor at the edge of the shoal, and upon the best of the flood to thrust + over, which shoal John Douglas buoyed and beckoned (beaconed) for them + before. But they laboured in vain; for neither could they turn it up + altogether so far to the east, neither did the flood continue so long, but + the water fell ere they could have passed the sands. As we after found by + a second experience: so as now we must either give over our enterprise, or + leaving our ships at adventure 400 mile behind us, must run up in our + ship's boats, one barge, and two wherries. But being doubtful how to carry + victuals for so long a time in such baubles, or any strength of men, + especially for that Berreo assured us that his son must be by that time + come down with many soldiers, I sent away one King, master of the Lion's + Whelp, with his ship-boat, to try another branch of the river in the + bottom of the Bay of Guanipa, which was called Amana, to prove if there + were water to be found for either of the small ships to enter. But when he + came to the mouth of Amana, he found it as the rest, but stayed not to + discover it thoroughly, because he was assured by an Indian, his guide, + that the cannibals of Guanipa would assail them with many canoas, and that + they shot poisoned arrows; so as if he hasted not back, they should all be + lost. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime, fearing the worst, I caused all the carpenters we had to + cut down a galego boat, which we meant to cast off, and to fit her with + banks to row on, and in all things to prepare her the best they could, so + as she might be brought to draw but five foot: for so much we had on the + bar of Capuri at low water. And doubting of King's return, I sent John + Douglas again in my long barge, as well to relieve him, as also to make a + perfect search in the bottom of the bay; for it hath been held for + infallible, that whatsoever ship or boat shall fall therein can never + disemboque again, by reason of the violent current which setteth into the + said bay, as also for that the breeze and easterly wind bloweth directly + into the same. Of which opinion I have heard John Hampton (Captain of the + Minion in the third voyage of Hawkins), of Plymouth, one of the greatest + experience of England, and divers other besides that have traded to + Trinidad. + </p> + <p> + I sent with John Douglas an old cacique of Trinidad for a pilot, who told + us that we could not return again by the bay or gulf, but that he knew a + by-branch which ran within the land to the eastward, and he thought by it + we might fall into Capuri, and so return in four days. John Douglas + searched those rivers, and found four goodly entrances, whereof the least + was as big as the Thames at Woolwich, but in the bay thitherward it was + shoal and but six foot water; so as we were now without hope of any ship + or bark to pass over, and therefore resolved to go on with the boats, and + the bottom of the galego, in which we thrust 60 men. In the Lion's Whelp's + boat and wherry we carried twenty, Captain Caulfield in his wherry carried + ten more, and in my barge other ten, which made up a hundred; we had no + other means but to carry victual for a month in the same, and also to + lodge therein as we could, and to boil and dress our meat. Captain Gifford + had with him Master Edward Porter, Captain Eynos, and eight more in his + wherry, with all their victual, weapons, and provisions. Captain Caulfield + had with him my cousin Butshead Gorges, and eight more. In the galley, of + gentlemen and officers myself had Captain Thyn, my cousin John Greenvile, + my nephew John Gilbert, Captain Whiddon, Captain Keymis, Edward Hancock, + Captain Clarke, Lieutenant Hughes, Thomas Upton, Captain Facy, Jerome + Ferrar, Anthony Wells, William Connock, and above fifty more. We could not + learn of Berreo any other way to enter but in branches so far to windward + as it was impossible for us to recover; for we had as much sea to cross + over in our wherries, as between Dover and Calice, and in a great hollow, + the wind and current being both very strong. So as we were driven to go in + those small boats directly before the wind into the bottom of the Bay of + Guanipa, and from thence to enter the mouth of some one of those rivers + which John Douglas had last discovered; and had with us for pilot an + Indian of Barema, a river to the south of Orenoque, between that and + Amazons, whose canoas we had formerly taken as he was going from the said + Barema, laden with cassavi bread to sell at Margarita. This Arwacan + promised to bring me into the great river of Orenoque; but indeed of that + which he entered he was utterly ignorant, for he had not seen it in twelve + years before, at which time he was very young, and of no judgment. And if + God had not sent us another help, we might have wandered a whole year in + that labyrinth of rivers, ere we had found any way, either out or in, + especially after we were past ebbing and flowing, which was in four days. + For I know all the earth doth not yield the like confluence of streams and + branches, the one crossing the other so many times, and all so fair and + large, and so like one to another, as no man can tell which to take: and + if we went by the sun or compass, hoping thereby to go directly one way or + other, yet that way we were also carried in a circle amongst multitudes of + islands, and every island so bordered with high trees as no man could see + any further than the breadth of the river, or length of the breach. But + this it chanced, that entering into a river (which because it had no name, + we called the River of the Red Cross, ourselves being the first Christians + that ever came therein), the 22. of May, as we were rowing up the same, we + espied a small canoa with three Indians, which by the swiftness of my + barge, rowing with eight oars, I overtook ere they could cross the river. + The rest of the people on the banks, shadowed under the thick wood, gazed + on with a doubtful conceit what might befall those three which we had + taken. But when they perceived that we offered them no violence, neither + entered their canoa with any of ours, nor took out of the canoa any of + theirs, they then began to show themselves on the bank's side, and offered + to traffic with us for such things as they had. And as we drew near, they + all stayed; and we came with our barge to the mouth of a little creek + which came from their town into the great river. + </p> + <p> + As we abode here awhile, our Indian pilot, called Ferdinando, would needs + go ashore to their village to fetch some fruits and to drink of their + artificial wines, and also to see the place and know the lord of it + against another time, and took with him a brother of his which he had with + him in the journey. When they came to the village of these people the lord + of the island offered to lay hands on them, purposing to have slain them + both; yielding for reason that this Indian of ours had brought a strange + nation into their territory to spoil and destroy them. But the pilot being + quick and of a disposed body, slipt their fingers and ran into the woods, + and his brother, being the better footman of the two, recovered the + creek's mouth, where we stayed in our barge, crying out that his brother + was slain. With that we set hands on one of them that was next us, a very + old man, and brought him into the barge, assuring him that if we had not + our pilot again we would presently cut off his head. This old man, being + resolved that he should pay the loss of the other, cried out to those in + the woods to save Ferdinando, our pilot; but they followed him + notwithstanding, and hunted after him upon the foot with their deer-dogs, + and with so main a cry that all the woods echoed with the shout they made. + But at the last this poor chased Indian recovered the river side and got + upon a tree, and, as we were coasting, leaped down and swam to the barge + half dead with fear. But our good hap was that we kept the other old + Indian, which we handfasted to redeem our pilot withal; for, being natural + of those rivers, we assured ourselves that he knew the way better than any + stranger could. And, indeed, but for this chance, I think we had never + found the way either to Guiana or back to our ships; for Ferdinando after + a few days knew nothing at all, nor which way to turn; yea, and many times + the old man himself was in great doubt which river to take. Those people + which dwell in these broken islands and drowned lands are generally called + Tivitivas. There are of them two sorts; the one called Ciawani, and the + other Waraweete. + </p> + <p> + The great river of Orenoque or Baraquan hath nine branches which fall out + on the north side of his own main mouth. On the south side it hath seven + other fallings into the sea, so it disemboqueth by sixteen arms in all, + between islands and broken ground; but the islands are very great, many of + them as big as the Isle of Wight, and bigger, and many less. From the + first branch on the north to the last of the south it is at least 100 + leagues, so as the river's mouth is 300 miles wide at his entrance into + the sea, which I take to be far bigger than that of Amazons. All those + that inhabit in the mouth of this river upon the several north branches + are these Tivitivas, of which there are two chief lords which have + continual wars one with the other. The islands which lie on the right hand + are called Pallamos, and the land on the left, Hororotomaka; and the river + by which John Douglas returned within the land from Amana to Capuri they + call Macuri. + </p> + <p> + These Tivitivas are a very goodly people and very valiant, and have the + most manly speech and most deliberate that ever I heard of what nation + soever. In the summer they have houses on the ground, as in other places; + in the winter they dwell upon the trees, where they build very artificial + towns and villages, as it is written in the Spanish story of the West + Indies that those people do in the low lands near the gulf of Uraba. For + between May and September the river of Orenoque riseth thirty foot + upright, and then are those islands overflown twenty foot high above the + level of the ground, saving some few raised grounds in the middle of them; + and for this cause they are enforced to live in this manner. They never + eat of anything that is set or sown; and as at home they use neither + planting nor other manurance, so when they come abroad they refuse to feed + of aught but of that which nature without labour bringeth forth. They use + the tops of palmitos for bread, and kill deer, fish, and porks for the + rest of their sustenance. They have also many sorts of fruits that grow in + the woods, and great variety of birds and fowls; and if to speak of them + were not tedious and vulgar, surely we saw in those passages of very rare + colours and forms not elsewhere to be found, for as much as I have either + seen or read. + </p> + <p> + Of these people those that dwell upon the branches of Orenoque, called + Capuri, and Macureo, are for the most part carpenters of canoas; for they + make the most and fairest canoas; and sell them into Guiana for gold and + into Trinidad for tabacco, in the excessive taking whereof they exceed all + nations. And notwithstanding the moistness of the air in which they live, + the hardness of their diet, and the great labours they suffer to hunt, + fish, and fowl for their living, in all my life, either in the Indies or + in Europe, did I never behold a more goodly or better-favoured people or a + more manly. They were wont to make war upon all nations, and especially on + the Cannibals, so as none durst without a good strength trade by those + rivers; but of late they are at peace with their neighbours, all holding + the Spaniards for a common enemy. When their commanders die they use great + lamentation; and when they think the flesh of their bodies is putrified + and fallen from their bones, then they take up the carcase again and hang + it in the cacique's house that died, and deck his skull with feathers of + all colours, and hang all his gold plates about the bones of this arms, + thighs, and legs. Those nations which are called Arwacas, which dwell on + the south of Orenoque, of which place and nation our Indian pilot was, are + dispersed in many other places, and do use to beat the bones of their + lords into powder, and their wives and friends drink it all in their + several sorts of drinks. + </p> + <p> + After we departed from the port of these Ciawani we passed up the river + with the flood and anchored the ebb, and in this sort we went onward. The + third day that we entered the river, our galley came on ground; and stuck + so fast as we thought that even there our discovery had ended, and that we + must have left four-score and ten of our men to have inhabited, like rooks + upon trees, with those nations. But the next morning, after we had cast + out all her ballast, with tugging and hauling to and fro we got her afloat + and went on. At four days' end we fell into as goodly a river as ever I + beheld, which was called the great Amana, which ran more directly without + windings and turnings than the other. But soon after the flood of the sea + left us; and, being enforced either by main strength to row against a + violent current, or to return as wise as we went out, we had then no shift + but to persuade the companies that it was but two or three days' work, and + therefore desired them to take pains, every gentleman and others taking + their turns to row, and to spell one the other at the hour's end. Every + day we passed by goodly branches of rivers, some falling from the west, + others from the east, into Amana; but those I leave to the description in + the chart of discovery, where every one shall be named with his rising and + descent. When three days more were overgone, our companies began to + despair, the weather being extreme hot, the river bordered with very high + trees that kept away the air, and the current against us every day + stronger than other. But we evermore commanded our pilots to promise an + end the next day, and used it so long as we were driven to assure them + from four reaches of the river to three, and so to two, and so to the next + reach. But so long we laboured that many days were spent, and we driven to + draw ourselves to harder allowance, our bread even at the last, and no + drink at all; and our men and ourselves so wearied and scorched, and + doubtful withal whether we should ever perform it or no, the heat + increasing as we drew towards the line; for we were now in five degrees. + </p> + <p> + The further we went on, our victual decreasing and the air breeding great + faintness, we grew weaker and weaker, when we had most need of strength + and ability. For hourly the river ran more violently than other against + us, and the barge, wherries, and ship's boat of Captain Gifford and + Captain Caulfield had spent all their provisions; so as we were brought + into despair and discomfort, had we not persuaded all the company that it + was but only one day's work more to attain the land where we should be + relieved of all we wanted, and if we returned, that we were sure to starve + by the way, and that the world would also laugh us to scorn. On the banks + of these rivers were divers sorts of fruits good to eat, flowers and trees + of such variety as were sufficient to make ten volumes of Herbals; we + relieved ourselves many times with the fruits of the country, and + sometimes with fowl and fish. We saw birds of all colours, some carnation, + some crimson, orange-tawny, purple, watchet (pale blue), and of all other + sorts, both simple and mixed, and it was unto us a great good-passing of + the time to behold them, besides the relief we found by killing some store + of them with our fowling-pieces; without which, having little or no bread, + and less drink, but only the thick and troubled water of the river, we had + been in a very hard case. + </p> + <p> + Our old pilot of the Ciawani, whom, as I said before, we took to redeem + Ferdinando, told us, that if we would enter a branch of a river on the + right hand with our barge and wherries, and leave the galley at anchor the + while in the great river, he would bring us to a town of the Arwacas, + where we should find store of bread, hens, fish, and of the country wine; + and persuaded us, that departing from the galley at noon we might return + ere night. I was very glad to hear this speech, and presently took my + barge, with eight musketeers, Captain Gifford's wherry, with himself and + four musketeers, and Captain Caulfield with his wherry, and as many; and + so we entered the mouth of this river; and because we were persuaded that + it was so near, we took no victual with us at all. When we had rowed three + hours, we marvelled we saw no sign of any dwelling, and asked the pilot + where the town was; he told us, a little further. After three hours more, + the sun being almost set, we began to suspect that he led us that way to + betray us; for he confessed that those Spaniards which fled from Trinidad, + and also those that remained with Carapana in Emeria, were joined together + in some village upon that river. But when it grew towards night, and we + demanded where the place was, he told us but four reaches more. When we + had rowed four and four, we saw no sign; and our poor watermen, even + heart-broken and tired, were ready to give up the ghost; for we had now + come from the galley near forty miles. + </p> + <p> + At the last we determined to hang the pilot; and if we had well known the + way back again by night, he had surely gone. But our own necessities + pleaded sufficiently for his safety; for it was as dark as pitch, and the + river began so to narrow itself, and the trees to hang over from side to + side, as we were driven with arming swords to cut a passage through those + branches that covered the water. We were very desirous to find this town + hoping of a feast, because we made but a short breakfast aboard the galley + in the morning, and it was now eight o'clock at night, and our stomachs + began to gnaw apace; but whether it was best to return or go on, we began + to doubt, suspecting treason in the pilot more and more; but the poor old + Indian ever assured us that it was but a little further, but this one + turning and that turning; and at the last about one o'clock after midnight + we saw a light, and rowing towards it we heard the dogs of the village. + When we landed we found few people; for the lord of that place was gone + with divers canoas above 400 miles off, upon a journey towards the head of + Orenoque, to trade for gold, and to buy women of the Cannibals, who + afterwards unfortunately passed by us as we rode at an anchor in the port + of Morequito in the dark of the night, and yet came so near us as his + canoas grated against our barges; he left one of his company at the port + of Morequito, by whom we understood that he had brought thirty young + women, divers plates of gold, and had great store of fine pieces of cotton + cloth, and cotton beds. In his house we had good store of bread, fish, + hens, and Indian drink, and so rested that night; and in the morning, + after we had traded with such of his people as came down, we returned + towards our galley, and brought with us some quantity of bread, fish, and + hens. + </p> + <p> + On both sides of this river we passed the most beautiful country that ever + mine eyes beheld; and whereas all that we had seen before was nothing but + woods, prickles, bushes, and thorns, here we beheld plains of twenty miles + in length, the grass short and green, and in divers parts groves of trees + by themselves, as if they had been by all the art and labour in the world + so made of purpose; and still as we rowed, the deer came down feeding by + the water's side as if they had been used to a keeper's call. Upon this + river there were great store of fowl, and of many sorts; we saw in it + divers sorts of strange fishes, and of marvellous bigness; but for + lagartos (alligators and caymans) it exceeded, for there were thousands of + those ugly serpents; and the people call it, for the abundance of them, + the River of Lagartos, in their language. I had a negro, a very proper + young fellow, who leaping out of the galley to swim in the mouth of this + river, was in all our sights taken and devoured with one of those + lagartos. In the meanwhile our companies in the galley thought we had been + all lost, for we promised to return before night; and sent the Lion's + Whelp's ship's boat with Captain Whiddon to follow us up the river. But + the next day, after we had rowed up and down some fourscore miles, we + returned, and went on our way up the great river; and when we were even at + the last cast for want of victuals, Captain Gifford being before the + galley and the rest of the boats, seeking out some place to land upon the + banks to make fire, espied four canoas coming down the river; and with no + small joy caused his men to try the uttermost of their strengths, and + after a while two of the four gave over and ran themselves ashore, every + man betaking himself to the fastness of the woods. The two other lesser + got away, while he landed to lay hold on these; and so turned into some + by-creek, we knew not whither. Those canoas that were taken were loaded + with bread, and were bound for Margarita in the West Indies, which those + Indians, called Arwacas, proposed to carry thither for exchange; but in + the lesser there were three Spaniards, who having heard of the defeat of + their Governor in Trinidad, and that we purposed to enter Guiana, came + away in those canoas; one of them was a cavallero, as the captain of the + Arwacas after told us, another a soldier and the third a refiner. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime, nothing on the earth could have been more welcome to us, + next unto gold, than the great store of very excellent bread which we + found in these canoas; for now our men cried, "Let us go on, we care not + how far." After that Captain Gifford had brought the two canoas to the + galley, I took my barge and went to the bank's side with a dozen shot, + where the canoas first ran themselves ashore, and landed there, sending + out Captain Gifford and Captain Thyn on one hand and Captain Caulfield on + the other, to follow those that were fled into the woods. And as I was + creeping through the bushes, I saw an Indian basket hidden, which was the + refiner's basket; for I found in it his quicksilver, saltpetre, and divers + things for the trial of metals, and also the dust of such ore as he had + refined; but in those canoas which escaped there was a good quantity of + ore and gold. I then landed more men, and offered five hundred pound to + what soldier soever could take one of those three Spaniards that we + thought were landed. But our labours were in vain in that behalf, for they + put themselves into one of the small canoas, and so, while the greater + canoas were in taking, they escaped. But seeking after the Spaniards we + found the Arwacas hidden in the woods, which were pilots for the + Spaniards, and rowed their canoas. Of which I kept the chiefest for a + pilot, and carried him with me to Guiana; by whom I understood where and + in what countries the Spaniards had laboured for gold, though I made not + the same known to all. For when the springs began to break, and the rivers + to raise themselves so suddenly as by no means we could abide the digging + of any mine, especially for that the richest are defended with rocks of + hard stones, which we call the white spar, and that it required both time, + men, and instruments fit for such a work, I thought it best not to hover + thereabouts, lest if the same had been perceived by the company, there + would have been by this time many barks and ships set out, and perchance + other nations would also have gotten of ours for pilots. So as both + ourselves might have been prevented, and all our care taken for good usage + of the people been utterly lost, by those that only respect present + profit; and such violence or insolence offered as the nations which are + borderers would have changed the desire of our love and defence into + hatred and violence. And for any longer stay to have brought a more + quantity, which I hear hath been often objected, whosoever had seen or + proved the fury of that river after it began to arise, and had been a + month and odd days, as we were, from hearing aught from our ships, leaving + them meanly manned 400 miles off, would perchance have turned somewhat + sooner than we did, if all the mountains had been gold, or rich stones. + And to say the truth, all the branches and small rivers which fell into + Orenoque were raised with such speed, as if we waded them over the shoes + in the morning outward, we were covered to the shoulders homeward the very + same day; and to stay to dig our gold with our nails, had been opus + laboris but not ingenii. Such a quantity as would have served our turns we + could not have had, but a discovery of the mines to our infinite + disadvantage we had made, and that could have been the best profit of + farther search or stay; for those mines are not easily broken, nor opened + in haste, and I could have returned a good quantity of gold ready cast if + I had not shot at another mark than present profit. + </p> + <p> + This Arwacan pilot, with the rest, feared that we would have eaten them, + or otherwise have put them to some cruel death: for the Spaniards, to the + end that none of the people in the passage towards Guiana, or in Guiana + itself, might come to speech with us, persuaded all the nations that we + were men-eaters and cannibals. But when the poor men and women had seen + us, and that we gave them meat, and to every one something or other which + was rare and strange to them, they began to conceive the deceit and + purpose of the Spaniards, who indeed, as they confessed took from them + both their wives and daughters daily . . . But I protest before the + Majesty of the living God, that I neither know nor believe, that any of + our company, one or other, did offer insult to any of their women, and yet + we saw many hundreds, and had many in our power, and of those very young + and excellently favoured, which came among us without deceit, stark naked. + Nothing got us more love amongst them than this usage; for I suffered not + any man to take from any of the nations so much as a pina (pineapple) or a + potato root without giving them contentment, nor any man so much as to + offer to touch any of their wives or daughters; which course, so contrary + to the Spaniards, who tyrannize over them in all things, drew them to + admire her Majesty, whose commandment I told them it was, and also + wonderfully to honour our nation. But I confess it was a very impatient + work to keep the meaner sort from spoil and stealing when we came to their + houses; which because in all I could not prevent, I caused my Indian + interpreter at every place when we departed, to know of the loss or wrong + done, and if aught were stolen or taken by violence, either the same was + restored, and the party punished in their sight, or else was paid for to + their uttermost demand. They also much wondered at us, after they heard + that we had slain the Spaniards at Trinidad, for they were before resolved + that no nation of Christians durst abide their presence; and they wondered + more when I had made them know of the great overthrow that her Majesty's + army and fleet had given them of late years in their own countries. + </p> + <p> + After we had taken in this supply of bread, with divers baskets of roots, + which were excellent meat, I gave one of the canoas to the Arwacas, which + belonged to the Spaniards that were escaped; and when I had dismissed all + but the captain, who by the Spaniards was christened Martin, I sent back + in the same canoa the old Ciawani, and Ferdinando, my first pilot, and + gave them both such things as they desired, with sufficient victual to + carry them back, and by them wrote a letter to the ships, which they + promised to deliver, and performed it; and then I went on, with my new + hired pilot, Martin the Arwacan. But the next or second day after, we came + aground again with our galley, and were like to cast her away, with all + our victual and provision, and so lay on the sand one whole night, and + were far more in despair at this time to free her than before, because we + had no tide of flood to help us, and therefore feared that all our hopes + would have ended in mishaps. But we fastened an anchor upon the land, and + with main strength drew her off; and so the fifteenth day we discovered + afar off the mountains of Guiana, to our great joy, and towards the + evening had a slent (push) of a northerly wind that blew very strong, + which brought us in sight of the great river Orenoque; out of which this + river descended wherein we were. We descried afar off three other canoas + as far as we could discern them, after whom we hastened with our barge and + wherries, but two of them passed out of sight, and the third entered up + the great river, on the right hand to the westward, and there stayed out + of sight, thinking that we meant to take the way eastward towards the + province of Carapana; for that way the Spaniards keep, not daring to go + upwards to Guiana, the people in those parts being all their enemies, and + those in the canoas thought us to have been those Spaniards that were fled + from Trinidad, and escaped killing. And when we came so far down as the + opening of that branch into which they slipped, being near them with our + barge and wherries, we made after them, and ere they could land came + within call, and by our interpreter told them what we were, wherewith they + came back willingly aboard us; and of such fish and tortugas' (turtles) + eggs as they had gathered they gave us, and promised in the morning to + bring the lord of that part with them, and to do us all other services + they could. That night we came to an anchor at the parting of the three + goodly rivers (the one was the river of Amana, by which we came from the + north, and ran athwart towards the south, the other two were of Orenoque, + which crossed from the west and ran to the sea towards the east) and + landed upon a fair sand, where we found thousands of tortugas' eggs, which + are very wholesome meat, and greatly restoring; so as our men were now + well filled and highly contented both with the fare, and nearness of the + land of Guiana, which appeared in sight. + </p> + <p> + In the morning there came down, according to promise, the lord of that + border, called Toparimaca, with some thirty or forty followers, and + brought us divers sorts of fruits, and of his wine, bread, fish, and + flesh, whom we also feasted as we could; at least we drank good Spanish + wine, whereof we had a small quantity in bottles, which above all things + they love. I conferred with this Toparimaca of the next way to Guiana, who + conducted our galley and boats to his own port, and carried us from thence + some mile and a-half to his town; where some of our captains caroused of + his wine till they were reasonable pleasant, for it is very strong with + pepper, and the juice of divers herbs and fruits digested and purged. They + keep it in great earthen pots of ten or twelve gallons, very clean and + sweet, and are themselves at their meetings and feasts the greatest + carousers and drunkards of the world. When we came to his town we found + two caciques, whereof one was a stranger that had been up the river in + trade, and his boats, people, and wife encamped at the port where we + anchored; and the other was of that country, a follower of Toparimaca. + They lay each of them in a cotton hamaca, which we call Brazil beds, and + two women attending them with six cups, and a little ladle to fill them + out of an earthen pitcher of wine; and so they drank each of them three of + those cups at a time one to the other, and in this sort they drink drunk + at their feasts and meetings. + </p> + <p> + That cacique that was a stranger had his wife staying at the port where we + anchored, and in all my life I have seldom seen a better favoured woman. + She was of good stature, with black eyes, fat of body, of an excellent + countenance, her hair almost as long as herself, tied up again in pretty + knots; and it seemed she stood not in that awe of her husband as the rest, + for she spake and discoursed, and drank among the gentlemen and captains, + and was very pleasant, knowing her own comeliness, and taking great pride + therein. I have seen a lady in England so like to her, as but for the + difference of colour, I would have sworn might have been the same. + </p> + <p> + The seat of this town of Toparimaca was very pleasant, standing on a + little hill, in an excellent prospect, with goodly gardens a mile compass + round about it, and two very fair and large ponds of excellent fish + adjoining. This town is called Arowocai; the people are of the nation + called Nepoios, and are followers of Carapana. In that place I saw very + aged people, that we might perceive all their sinews and veins without any + flesh, and but even as a case covered only with skin. The lord of this + place gave me an old man for pilot, who was of great experience and + travel, and knew the river most perfectly both by day and night. And it + shall be requisite for any man that passeth it to have such a pilot; for + it is four, five, and six miles over in many places, and twenty miles in + other places, with wonderful eddies and strong currents, many great + islands, and divers shoals, and many dangerous rocks; and besides upon any + increase of wind so great a billow, as we were sometimes in great peril of + drowning in the galley, for the small boats durst not come from the shore + but when it was very fair. + </p> + <p> + The next day we hasted thence, and having an easterly wind to help us, we + spared our arms from rowing; for after we entered Orenoque, the river + lieth for the most part east and west, even from the sea unto Quito, in + Peru. This river is navigable with barks little less than 1000 miles; and + from the place where we entered it may be sailed up in small pinnaces to + many of the best parts of Nuevo Reyno de Granada and of Popayan. And from + no place may the cities of these parts of the Indies be so easily taken + and invaded as from hence. All that day we sailed up a branch of that + river, having on the left hand a great island, which they call Assapana, + which may contain some five-and-twenty miles in length, and six miles in + breadth, the great body of the river running on the other side of this + island. Beyond that middle branch there is also another island in the + river, called Iwana, which is twice as big as the Isle of Wight; and + beyond it, and between it and the main of Guiana, runneth a third branch + of Orenoque, called Arraroopana. All three are goodly branches, and all + navigable for great ships. I judge the river in this place to be at least + thirty miles broad, reckoning the islands which divide the branches in it, + for afterwards I sought also both the other branches. + </p> + <p> + After we reached to the head of the island called Assapana, a little to + the westward on the right hand there opened a river which came from the + north, called Europa, and fell into the great river; and beyond it on the + same side we anchored for that night by another island, six miles long and + two miles broad, which they call Ocaywita. From hence, in the morning, we + landed two Guianians, which we found in the town of Toparimaca, that came + with us; who went to give notice of our coming to the lord of that + country, called Putyma, a follower of Topiawari, chief lord of Aromaia, + who succeeded Morequito, whom (as you have heard before) Berreo put to + death. But his town being far within the land, he came not unto us that + day; so as we anchored again that night near the banks of another land, of + bigness much like the other, which they call Putapayma, over against which + island, on the main land, was a very high mountain called Oecope. We + coveted to anchor rather by these islands in the river than by the main, + because of the tortugas' eggs, which our people found on them in great + abundance; and also because the ground served better for us to cast our + nets for fish, the main banks being for the most part stony and high and + the rocks of a blue, metalline colour, like unto the best steel ore, which + I assuredly take it to be. Of the same blue stone are also divers great + mountains which border this river in many places. + </p> + <p> + The next morning, towards nine of the clock, we weighed anchor; and the + breeze increasing, we sailed always west up the river, and, after a while, + opening the land on the right side, the country appeared to be champaign + and the banks shewed very perfect red. I therefore sent two of the little + barges with Captain Gifford, and with him Captain Thyn, Captain Caulfield, + my cousin Greenvile, my nephew John Gilbert, Captain Eynos, Master Edward + Porter, and my cousin Butshead Gorges, with some few soldiers, to march + over the banks of that red land and to discover what manner of country it + was on the other side; who at their return found it all a plain level as + far as they went or could discern from the highest tree they could get + upon. And my old pilot, a man of great travel, brother to the cacique + Toparimaca, told me that those were called the plains of the Sayma, and + that the same level reached to Cumana and Caracas, in the West Indies, + which are a hundred and twenty leagues to the north, and that there + inhabited four principal nations. The first were the Sayma, the next + Assawai, the third and greatest the Wikiri, by whom Pedro Hernandez de + Serpa, before mentioned, was overthrown as he passed with 300 horse from + Cumana towards Orenoque in his enterprise of Guiana. The fourth are called + Aroras, and are as black as negroes, but have smooth hair; and these are + very valiant, or rather desperate, people, and have the most strong poison + on their arrows, and most dangerous, of all nations, of which I will speak + somewhat, being a digression not unnecessary. + </p> + <p> + There was nothing whereof I was more curious than to find out the true + remedies of these poisoned arrows. For besides the mortality of the wound + they make, the party shot endureth the most insufferable torment in the + world, and abideth a most ugly and lamentable death, sometimes dying stark + mad, sometimes their bowels breaking out of their bellies; which are + presently discoloured as black as pitch, and so unsavory as no man can + endure to cure or to attend them. And it is more strange to know that in + all this time there was never Spaniard, either by gift or torment, that + could attain to the true knowledge of the cure, although they have + martyred and put to invented torture I know not how many of them. But + everyone of these Indians know it not, no, not one among thousands, but + their soothsayers and priests, who do conceal it, and only teach it but + from the father to the son. + </p> + <p> + Those medicines which are vulgar, and serve for the ordinary poison, are + made of the juice of a root called tupara; the same also quencheth + marvellously the heat of burning fevers, and healeth inward wounds and + broken veins that bleed within the body. But I was more beholding to the + Guianians than any other; for Antonio de Berreo told me that he could + never attain to the knowledge thereof, and yet they taught me the best way + of healing as well thereof as of all other poisons. Some of the Spaniards + have been cured in ordinary wounds of the common poisoned arrows with the + juice of garlic. But this is a general rule for all men that shall + hereafter travel the Indies where poisoned arrows are used, that they must + abstain from drink. For if they take any liquor into their body, as they + shall be marvellously provoked thereunto by drought, I say, if they drink + before the wound be dressed, or soon upon it, there is no way with them + but present death. + </p> + <p> + And so I will return again to our journey, which for this third day we + finished, and cast anchor again near the continent on the left hand + between two mountains, the one called Aroami and the other Aio. I made no + stay here but till midnight; for I feared hourly lest any rain should + fall, and then it had been impossible to have gone any further up, + notwithstanding that there is every day a very strong breeze and easterly + wind. I deferred the search of the country on Guiana side till my return + down the river. + </p> + <p> + The next day we sailed by a great island in the middle of the river, + called Manoripano; and, as we walked awhile on the island, while the + galley got ahead of us, there came for us from the main a small canoa with + seven or eight Guianians, to invite us to anchor at their port, but I + deferred till my return. It was that cacique to whom those Nepoios went, + which came with us from the town of Toparimaca. And so the fifth day we + reached as high up as the province of Aromaia, the country of Morequito, + whom Berreo executed, and anchored to the west of an island called + Murrecotima, ten miles long and five broad. And that night the cacique + Aramiary, to whose town we made our long and hungry voyage out of the + river of Amana, passed by us. + </p> + <p> + The next day we arrived at the port of Morequito, and anchored there, + sending away one of our pilots to seek the king of Aromaia, uncle to + Morequito, slain by Berreo as aforesaid. The next day following, before + noon, he came to us on foot from his house, which was fourteen English + miles, himself being a hundred and ten years old, and returned on foot the + same day; and with him many of the borderers, with many women and + children, that came to wonder at our nation and to bring us down victual, + which they did in great plenty, as venison, pork, hens, chickens, fowl, + fish, with divers sorts of excellent fruits and roots, and great abundance + of pinas, the princess of fruits that grow under the sun, especially those + of Guiana. They brought us, also, store of bread and of their wine, and a + sort of paraquitos no bigger than wrens, and of all other sorts both small + and great. One of them gave me a beast called by the Spaniards armadillo, + which they call cassacam, which seemeth to be all barred over with small + plates somewhat like to a rhinoceros, with a white horn growing in his + hinder parts as big as a great hunting-horn, which they use to wind + instead of a trumpet. Monardus (Monardes, Historia Medicinal) writeth that + a little of the powder of that horn put into the ear cureth deafness. + </p> + <p> + After this old king had rested awhile in a little tent that I caused to be + set up, I began by my interpreter to discourse with him of the death of + Morequito his predecessor, and afterward of the Spaniards; and ere I went + any farther I made him know the cause of my coming thither, whose servant + I was, and that the Queen's pleasure was I should undertake the voyage for + their defence, and to deliver them from the tyranny of the Spaniards, + dilating at large, as I had done before to those of Trinidad, her + Majesty's greatness, her justice, her charity to all oppressed nations, + with as many of the rest of her beauties and virtues as either I could + express or they conceive. All which being with great admiration + attentively heard and marvellously admired, I began to sound the old man + as touching Guiana and the state thereof, what sort of commonwealth it + was, how governed, of what strength and policy, how far it extended, and + what nations were friends or enemies adjoining, and finally of the + distance, and way to enter the same. He told me that himself and his + people, with all those down the river towards the sea, as far as Emeria, + the province of Carapana, were of Guiana, but that they called themselves + Orenoqueponi, and that all the nations between the river and those + mountains in sight, called Wacarima, were of the same cast and + appellation; and that on the other side of those mountains of Wacarima + there was a large plain (which after I discovered in my return) called the + valley of Amariocapana. In all that valley the people were also of the + ancient Guianians. + </p> + <p> + I asked what nations those were which inhabited on the further side of + those mountains, beyond the valley of Amariocapana. He answered with a + great sigh (as a man which had inward feeling of the loss of his country + and liberty, especially for that his eldest son was slain in a battle on + that side of the mountains, whom he most entirely loved) that he + remembered in his father's lifetime, when he was very old and himself a + young man, that there came down into that large valley of Guiana a nation + from so far off as the sun slept (for such were his own words), with so + great a multitude as they could not be numbered nor resisted, and that + they wore large coats, and hats of crimson colour, which colour he + expressed by shewing a piece of red wood wherewith my tent was supported, + and that they were called Orejones and Epuremei; that those had slain and + rooted out so many of the ancient people as there were leaves in the wood + upon all the trees, and had now made themselves lords of all, even to that + mountain foot called Curaa, saving only of two nations, the one called + Iwarawaqueri and the other Cassipagotos; and that in the last battle + fought between the Epuremei and the Iwarawaqueri his eldest son was chosen + to carry to the aid of the Iwarawaqueri a great troop of the Orenoqueponi, + and was there slain with all his people and friends, and that he had now + remaining but one son; and farther told me that those Epuremei had built a + great town called Macureguarai at the said mountain foot, at the beginning + of the great plains of Guiana, which have no end; and that their houses + have many rooms, one over the other, and that therein the great king of + the Orejones and Epuremei kept three thousand men to defend the borders + against them, and withal daily to invade and slay them; but that of late + years, since the Christians offered to invade his territories and those + frontiers, they were all at peace, and traded one with another, saving + only the Iwarawaqueri and those other nations upon the head of the river + of Caroli called Cassipagotos, which we afterwards discovered, each one + holding the Spaniard for a common enemy. + </p> + <p> + After he had answered thus far, he desired leave to depart, saying that he + had far to go, that he was old and weak, and was every day called for by + death, which was also his own phrase. I desired him to rest with us that + night, but I could not entreat him; but he told me that at my return from + the country above he would again come to us, and in the meantime provide + for us the best he could, of all that his country yielded. The same night + he returned to Orocotona, his own town; so as he went that day + eight-and-twenty miles, the weather being very hot, the country being + situate between four and five degrees of the equinoctial. This Topiawari + is held for the proudest and wisest of all the Orenoqueponi, and so he + behaved himself towards me in all his answers, at my return, as I + marvelled to find a man of that gravity and judgment and of so good + discourse, that had no help of learning nor breed. The next morning we + also left the port, and sailed westward up to the river, to view the + famous river called Caroli, as well because it was marvellous of itself, + as also for that I understood it led to the strongest nations of all the + frontiers, that were enemies to the Epuremei, which are subjects to Inga, + emperor of Guiana and Manoa. And that night we anchored at another island + called Caiama, of some five or six miles in length; and the next day + arrived at the mouth of Caroli. When we were short of it as low or further + down as the port of Morequito, we heard the great roar and fall of the + river. But when we came to enter with our barge and wherries, thinking to + have gone up some forty miles to the nations of the Cassipagotos, we were + not able with a barge of eight oars to row one stone's cast in an hour; + and yet the river is as broad as the Thames at Woolwich, and we tried both + sides, and the middle, and every part of the river. So as we encamped upon + the banks adjoining, and sent off our Orenoquepone which came with us from + Morequito to give knowledge to the nations upon the river of our being + there, and that we desired to see the lords of Canuria, which dwelt within + the province upon that river, making them know that we were enemies to the + Spaniards; for it was on this river side that Morequito slew the friar, + and those nine Spaniards which came from Manoa, the city of Inga, and took + from them 14,000 pesos of gold. So as the next day there came down a lord + or cacique, called Wanuretona, with many people with him, and brought all + store of provisions to entertain us, as the rest had done. And as I had + before made my coming known to Topiawari, so did I acquaint this cacique + therewith, and how I was sent by her Majesty for the purpose aforesaid, + and gathered also what I could of him touching the estate of Guiana. And I + found that those also of Caroli were not only enemies to the Spaniards, + but most of all to the Epuremei, which abound in gold. And by this + Wanuretona I had knowledge that on the head of this river were three + mighty nations, which were seated on a great lake, from whence this river + descended, and were called Cassipagotos, Eparegotos, and Arawagotos (the + Purigotos and Arinagotos are still settled on the upper tributaries of the + Caroni river, no such lake as that mentioned is known to exist); and that + all those either against the Spaniards or the Epuremei would join with us, + and that if we entered the land over the mountains of Curaa we should + satisfy ourselves with gold and all other good things. He told us farther + of a nation called Iwarawaqueri, before spoken of, that held daily war + with the Epuremei that inhabited Macureguarai, and first civil town of + Guiana, of the subjects of Inga, the emperor. + </p> + <p> + Upon this river one Captain George, that I took with Berreo, told me that + there was a great silver mine, and that it was near the banks of the said + river. But by this time as well Orenoque, Caroli, as all the rest of the + rivers were risen four or five feet in height, so as it was not possible + by the strength of any men, or with any boat whatsoever, to row into the + river against the stream. I therefore sent Captain Thyn, Captain + Greenvile, my nephew John Gilbert, my cousin Butshead Gorges, Captain + Clarke, and some thirty shot more to coast the river by land, and to go to + a town some twenty miles over the valley called Amnatapoi; and they found + guides there to go farther towards the mountain foot to another great town + called Capurepana, belonging to a cacique called Haharacoa, that was a + nephew to old Topiawari, king of Aromaia, our chiefest friend, because + this town and province of Capurepana adjoined to Macureguarai, which was a + frontier town of the empire. And the meanwhile myself with Captain + Gifford, Captain Caulfield, Edward Hancock, and some half-a-dozen shot + marched overland to view the strange overfalls of the river of Caroli, + which roared so far off; and also to see the plains adjoining, and the + rest of the province of Canuri. I sent also Captain Whiddon, William + Connock, and some eight shot with them, to see if they could find any + mineral stone alongst the river's side. When we were come to the tops of + the first hills of the plains adjoining to the river, we beheld that + wonderful breach of waters which ran down Caroli; and might from that + mountain see the river how it ran in three parts, above twenty miles off, + and there appeared some ten or twelve overfalls in sight, every one as + high over the other as a church tower, which fell with that fury, that the + rebound of water made it seem as if it had been all covered over with a + great shower of rain; and in some places we took it at the first for a + smoke that had risen over some great town. For mine own part I was well + persuaded from thence to have returned, being a very ill footman; but the + rest were all so desirous to go near the said strange thunder of waters, + as they drew me on by little and little, till we came into the next + valley, where we might better discern the same. I never saw a more + beautiful country, nor more lively prospects; hills so raised here and + there over the valleys; the river winding into divers branches; the plains + adjoining without bush or stubble, all fair green grass; the ground of + hard sand, easy to march on, either for horse or foot; the deer crossing + in every path; the birds towards the evening singing on every tree with a + thousand several tunes; cranes and herons of white, crimson, and + carnation, perching in the river's side; the air fresh with a gentle + easterly wind; and every stone that we stooped to take up promised either + gold or silver by his complexion. Your Lordship shall see of many sorts, + and I hope some of them cannot be bettered under the sun; and yet we had + no means but with our daggers and fingers to tear them out here and there, + the rocks being most hard of that mineral spar aforesaid, which is like a + flint, and is altogether as hard or harder, and besides the veins lie a + fathom or two deep in the rocks. But we wanted all things requisite save + only our desires and good will to have performed more if it had pleased + God. To be short, when both our companies returned, each of them brought + also several sorts of stones that appeared very fair, but were such as + they found loose on the ground, and were for the most part but coloured, + and had not any gold fixed in them. Yet such as had no judgment or + experience kept all that glistered, and would not be persuaded but it was + rich because of the lustre; and brought of those, and of marcasite withal, + from Trinidad, and have delivered of those stones to be tried in many + places, and have thereby bred an opinion that all the rest is of the same. + Yet some of these stones I shewed afterward to a Spaniard of the Caracas, + who told me that it was El Madre del Oro, that is, the mother of gold, and + that the mine was farther in the ground. + </p> + <p> + But it shall be found a weak policy in me, either to betray myself or my + country with imaginations; neither am I so far in love with that lodging, + watching, care, peril, diseases, ill savours, bad fare, and many other + mischiefs that accompany these voyages, as to woo myself again into any of + them, were I not assured that the sun covereth not so much riches in any + part of the earth. Captain Whiddon, and our chirurgeon, Nicholas + Millechamp, brought me a kind of stones like sapphires; what they may + prove I know not. I shewed them to some of the Orenoqueponi, and they + promised to bring me to a mountain that had of them very large pieces + growing diamond-wise; whether it be crystal of the mountain, Bristol + diamond, or sapphire, I do not yet know, but I hope the best; sure I am + that the place is as likely as those from whence all the rich stones are + brought, and in the same height or very near. On the left hand of this + river Caroli are seated those nations which I called Iwarawaqueri before + remembered, which are enemies to the Epuremei; and on the head of it, + adjoining to the great lake Cassipa, are situated those other nations + which also resist Inga, and the Epuremei, called Cassipagotos, Eparegotos, + and Arawagotos. I farther understood that this lake of Cassipa is so + large, as it is above one day's journey for one of their canoas, to cross, + which may be some forty miles; and that thereinto fall divers rivers, and + that great store of grains of gold are found in the summer time when the + lake falleth by the banks, in those branches. + </p> + <p> + There is also another goodly river beyond Caroli which is called Arui, + which also runneth through the lake Cassipa, and falleth into Orenoque + farther west, making all that land between Caroli and Arui an island; + which is likewise a most beautiful country. Next unto Arui there are two + rivers Atoica and Caura, and on that branch which is called Caura are a + nation of people whose heads appear not above their shoulders; which + though it may be thought a mere fable, yet for mine own part I am resolved + it is true, because every child in the provinces of Aromaia and Canuri + affirm the same. They are called Ewaipanoma; they are reported to have + their eyes in their shoulders, and their mouths in the middle of their + breasts, and that a long train of hair groweth backward between their + shoulders. The son of Topiawari, which I brought with me into England, + told me that they were the most mighty men of all the land, and use bows, + arrows, and clubs thrice as big as any of Guiana, or of the Orenoqueponi; + and that one of the Iwarawaqueri took a prisoner of them the year before + our arrival there, and brought him into the borders of Aromaia, his + father's country. And farther, when I seemed to doubt of it, he told me + that it was no wonder among them; but that they were as great a nation and + as common as any other in all the provinces, and had of late years slain + many hundreds of his father's people, and of other nations their + neighbours. But it was not my chance to hear of them till I was come away; + and if I had but spoken one word of it while I was there I might have + brought one of them with me to put the matter out of doubt. Such a nation + was written of by Mandeville, whose reports were holden for fables many + years; and yet since the East Indies were discovered, we find his + relations true of such things as heretofore were held incredible + (Mandeville, or the author who assumed this name, placed his headless men + in the East Indian Archipelago, the fable is borrowed from older writers, + Herodotus &c). Whether it be true or no, the matter is not great, + neither can there be any profit in the imagination; for mine own part I + saw them not, but I am resolved that so many people did not all combine or + forethink to make the report. + </p> + <p> + When I came to Cumana in the West Indies afterwards by chance I spake with + a Spaniard dwelling not far from thence, a man of great travel. And after + he knew that I had been in Guiana, and so far directly west as Caroli, the + first question he asked me was, whether I had seen any of the Ewaipanoma, + which are those without heads. Who being esteemed a most honest man of his + word, and in all things else, told me that he had seen many of them; I may + not name him, because it may be for his disadvantage, but he is well known + to Monsieur Moucheron's son of London, and to Peter Moucheron, merchant, + of the Flemish ship that was there in trade; who also heard, what he + avowed to be true, of those people. + </p> + <p> + The fourth river to the west of Caroli is Casnero: which falleth into the + Orenoque on this side of Amapaia. And that river is greater than Danubius, + or any of Europe: it riseth on the south of Guiana from the mountains + which divide Guiana from Amazons, and I think it to be navigable many + hundred miles. But we had no time, means, nor season of the year, to + search those rivers, for the causes aforesaid, the winter being come upon + us; although the winter and summer as touching cold and heat differ not, + neither do the trees ever sensibly lose their leaves, but have always + fruit either ripe or green, and most of them both blossoms, leaves, ripe + fruit, and green, at one time: but their winter only consisteth of + terrible rains, and overflowing of the rivers, with many great storms and + gusts, thunder and lightnings, of which we had our fill ere we returned. + </p> + <p> + On the north side, the first river that falleth into the Orenoque is Cari. + Beyond it, on the same side is the river of Limo. Between these two is a + great nation of Cannibals, and their chief town beareth the name of the + river, and is called Acamacari. At this town is a continual market of + women for three or four hatchets apiece; they are bought by the Arwacas, + and by them sold into the West Indies. To the west of Limo is the river + Pao, beyond it Caturi, beyond that Voari, and Capuri (the Apure river), + which falleth out of the great river of Meta, by which Berreo descended + from Nuevo Reyno de Granada. To the westward of Capuri is the province of + Amapaia, where Berreo wintered and had so many of his people poisoned with + the tawny water of the marshes of the Anebas. Above Amapaia, toward Nuevo + Reyno, fall in Meto, Pato and Cassanar. To the west of those, towards the + provinces of the Ashaguas and Catetios, are the rivers of Beta, Dawney, + and Ubarro; and toward the frontier of Peru are the provinces of + Thomebamba, and Caxamalca. Adjoining to Quito in the north side of Peru + are the rivers of Guiacar and Goauar; and on the other side of the said + mountains the river of Papamene which descendeth into Maranon or Amazons, + passing through the province Motilones, where Don Pedro de Orsua, who was + slain by the traitor Aguirre before rehearsed, built his brigandines, when + he sought Guiana by the way of Amazons. + </p> + <p> + Between Dawney and Beta lieth a famous island in Orenoque (now called + Baraquan, for above Meta it is not known by the name of Orenoque) which is + called Athule (cataract of Ature); beyond which ships of burden cannot + pass by reason of a most forcible overfall, and current of water; but in + the eddy all smaller vessels may be drawn even to Peru itself. But to + speak of more of these rivers without the description were but tedious, + and therefore I will leave the rest to the description. This river of + Orenoque is navigable for ships little less than 1,000 miles, and for + lesser vessels near 2,000. By it, as aforesaid, Peru, Nuevo Reyno and + Popayan may be invaded: it also leadeth to the great empire of Inga, and + to the provinces of Amapaia and Anebas, which abound in gold. His branches + of Casnero, Manta, Caura descend from the middle land and valley which + lieth between the easter province of Peru and Guiana; and it falls into + the sea between Maranon and Trinidad in two degrees and a half. All of + which your honours shall better perceive in the general description of + Guiana, Peru, Nuevo Reyno, the kingdom of Popayan, and Rodas, with the + province of Venezuela, to the bay of Uraba, behind Cartagena, westward, + and to Amazons southward. While we lay at anchor on the coast of Canuri, + and had taken knowledge of all the nations upon the head and branches of + this river, and had found out so many several people, which were enemies + to the Epuremei and the new conquerors, I thought it time lost to linger + any longer in that place, especially for that the fury of Orenoque began + daily to threaten us with dangers in our return. For no half day passed + but the river began to rage and overflow very fearfully, and the rains + came down in terrible showers, and gusts in great abundance; and withal + our men began to cry out for want of shift, for no man had place to bestow + any other apparel than that which he ware on his back, and that was + throughly washed on his body for the most part ten times in one day; and + we had now been well-near a month every day passing to the westward + farther and farther from our ships. We therefore turned towards the east, + and spent the rest of the time in discovering the river towards the sea, + which we had not viewed, and which was most material. + </p> + <p> + The next day following we left the mouth of Caroli, and arrived again at + the port of Morequito where we were before; for passing down the stream we + went without labour, and against the wind, little less than a hundred + miles a day. As soon as I came to anchor, I sent away one for old + Topiawari, with whom I much desired to have further conference, and also + to deal with him for some one of his country to bring with us into + England, as well to learn the language, as to confer withal by the way, + the time being now spent of any longer stay there. Within three hours + after my messenger came to him, he arrived also, and with him such a + rabble of all sorts of people, and every one loaden with somewhat, as if + it had been a great market or fair in England; and our hungry companies + clustered thick and threefold among their baskets, every one laying hand + on what he liked. After he had rested awhile in my tent, I shut out all + but ourselves and my interpreter, and told him that I knew that both the + Epuremei and the Spaniards were enemies to him, his country and nations: + that the one had conquered Guiana already, and the other sought to regain + the same from them both; and therefore I desired him to instruct me what + he could, both of the passage into the golden parts of Guiana, and to the + civil towns and apparelled people of Inga. He gave me an answer to this + effect: first, that he could not perceive that I meant to go onward + towards the city of Manoa, for neither the time of the year served, + neither could he perceive any sufficient numbers for such an enterprise. + And if I did, I was sure with all my company to be buried there, for the + emperor was of that strength, as that many times so many men more were too + few. Besides, he gave me this good counsel and advised me to hold it in + mind (as for himself, he knew he could not live till my return), that I + should not offer by any means hereafter to invade the strong parts of + Guiana without the help of all those nations which were also their + enemies; for that it was impossible without those, either to be conducted, + to be victualled, or to have aught carried with us, our people not being + able to endure the march in so great heat and travail, unless the + borderers gave them help, to cart with them both their meat and furniture. + For he remembered that in the plains of Macureguarai three hundred + Spaniards were overthrown, who were tired out, and had none of the + borderers to their friends; but meeting their enemies as they passed the + frontier, were environed on all sides, and the people setting the long dry + grass on fire, smothered them, so as they had no breath to fight, nor + could discern their enemies for the great smoke. He told me further that + four days' journey from his town was Macureguarai, and that those were the + next and nearest of the subjects of Inga, and of the Epuremei, and the + first town of apparelled and rich people; and that all those plates of + gold which were scattered among the borderers and carried to other nations + far and near, came from the said Macureguarai and were there made, but + that those of the land within were far finer, and were fashioned after the + images of men, beasts, birds, and fishes. I asked him whether he thought + that those companies that I had there with me were sufficient to take that + town or no; he told me that he thought they were. I then asked him whether + he would assist me with guides, and some companies of his people to join + with us; he answered that he would go himself with all the borderers, if + the rivers did remain fordable, upon this condition, that I would leave + with him till my return again fifty soldiers, which he undertook to + victual. I answered that I had not above fifty good men in all there; the + rest were labourers and rowers, and that I had no provision to leave with + them of powder, shot, apparel, or aught else, and that without those + things necessary for their defence, they should be in danger of the + Spaniards in my absence, who I knew would use the same measures towards + mine that I offered them at Trinidad. And although upon the motion Captain + Caulfield, Captain Greenvile, my nephew John Gilbert and divers others + were desirous to stay, yet I was resolved that they must needs have + perished. For Berreo expected daily a supply out of Spain, and looked also + hourly for his son to come down from Nuevo Reyno de Granada, with many + horse and foot, and had also in Valencia, in the Caracas, two hundred + horse ready to march; and I could not have spared above forty, and had not + any store at all of powder, lead, or match to have left with them, nor any + other provision, either spade, pickaxe, or aught else to have fortified + withal. + </p> + <p> + When I had given him reason that I could not at this time leave him such a + company, he then desired me to forbear him and his country for that time; + for he assured me that I should be no sooner three days from the coast but + those Epuremei would invade him, and destroy all the remain of his people + and friends, if he should any way either guide us or assist us against + them. He further alleged that the Spaniards sought his death; and as they + had already murdered his nephew Morequito, lord of that province, so they + had him seventeen days in a chain before he was king of the country, and + led him like a dog from place to place until he had paid an hundred plates + of gold and divers chains of spleen-stones for his ransom. And now, since + he became owner of that province, that they had many times laid wait to + take him, and that they would be now more vehement when they should + understand of his conference with the English. <i>And because</i>, said + he, <i>they would the better displant me, if they cannot lay hands on me, + they have gotten a nephew of mine called Eparacano, whom they have + christened Don Juan, and his son Don Pedro, whom they have also apparelled + and armed, by whom they seek to make a party against me in mine own + country. He also hath taken to wife one Louiana, of a strong family, which + are borderers and neighbours; and myself now being old and in the hands of + death am not able to travel nor to shift as when I was of younger years.</i> + He therefore prayed us to defer it till the next year, when he would + undertake to draw in all the borderers to serve us, and then, also, it + would be more seasonable to travel; for at this time of the year we should + not be able to pass any river, the waters were and would be so grown ere + our return. + </p> + <p> + He farther told me that I could not desire so much to invade Macureguarai + and the rest of Guiana but that the borderers would be more vehement than + I. For he yielded for a chief cause that in the wars with the Epuremei + they were spoiled of their women, and that their wives and daughters were + taken from them; so as for their own parts they desired nothing of the + gold or treasure for their labours, but only to recover women from the + Epuremei. For he farther complained very sadly, as it had been a matter of + great consequence, that whereas they were wont to have ten or twelve + wives, they were now enforced to content themselves with three or four, + and that the lords of the Epuremei had fifty or a hundred. And in truth + they war more for women than either for gold or dominion. For the lords of + countries desire many children of their own bodies to increase their races + and kindreds, for in those consist their greatest trust and strength. + Divers of his followers afterwards desired me to make haste again, that + they might sack the Epuremei, and I asked them, of what? They answered, Of + their women for us, and their gold for you. For the hope of those many of + women they more desire the war than either for gold or for the recovery of + their ancient territories. For what between the subjects of Inga and the + Spaniards, those frontiers are grown thin of people; and also great + numbers are fled to other nations farther off for fear of the Spaniards. + </p> + <p> + After I received this answer of the old man, we fell into consideration + whether it had been of better advice to have entered Macureguarai, and to + have begun a war upon Inga at this time, yea, or no, if the time of the + year and all things else had sorted. For mine own part, as we were not + able to march it for the rivers, neither had any such strength as was + requisite, and durst not abide the coming of the winter, or to tarry any + longer from our ships, I thought it were evil counsel to have attempted it + at that time, although the desire for gold will answer many objections. + But it would have been, in mine opinion, an utter overthrow to the + enterprise, if the same should be hereafter by her Majesty attempted. For + then, whereas now they have heard we were enemies to the Spaniards and + were sent by her Majesty to relieve them, they would as good cheap have + joined with the Spaniards at our return, as to have yielded unto us, when + they had proved that we came both for one errand, and that both sought but + to sack and spoil them. But as yet our desire gold, or our purpose of + invasion, is not known to them of the empire. And it is likely that if her + Majesty undertake the enterprise they will rather submit themselves to her + obedience than to the Spaniards, of whose cruelty both themselves and the + borderers have already tasted. And therefore, till I had known her + Majesty's pleasure, I would rather have lost the sack of one or two towns, + although they might have been very profitable, than to have defaced or + endangered the future hope of so many millions, and the great good and + rich trade which England may be possessed of thereby. I am assured now + that they will all die, even to the last man, against the Spaniards in + hope of our succour and return. Whereas, otherwise, if I had either laid + hands on the borderers or ransomed the lords, as Berreo did, or invaded + the subjects of Inga, I know all had been lost for hereafter. + </p> + <p> + After that I had resolved Topiawari, lord of Aromaia, that I could not at + this time leave with him the companies he desired, and that I was + contented to forbear the enterprise against the Epuremei till the next + year, he freely gave me his only son to take with me into England; and + hoped that though he himself had but a short time to live, yet that by our + means his son should be established after his death. And I left with him + one Francis Sparrow, a servant of Captain Gifford, who was desirous to + tarry, and could describe a country with his pen, and a boy of mine called + Hugh Goodwin, to learn the language. I after asked the manner how the + Epuremei wrought those plates of gold, and how they could melt it out of + the stone. He told me that the most of the gold which they made in plates + and images was not severed from the stone, but that on the lake of Manoa, + and in a multitude of other rivers, they gathered it in grains of perfect + gold and in pieces as big as small stones, and they put it to a part of + copper, otherwise they could not work it; and that they used a great + earthen pot with holes round about it, and when they had mingled the gold + and copper together they fastened canes to the holes, and so with the + breath of men they increased the fire till the metal ran, and then they + cast it into moulds of stone and clay, and so make those plates and + images. I have sent your honours of two sorts such as I could by chance + recover, more to shew the manner of them than for the value. For I did not + in any sort make my desire of gold known, because I had neither time nor + power to have a great quantity. I gave among them many more pieces of gold + than I received, of the new money of twenty shillings with her Majesty's + picture, to wear, with promise that they would become her servants + thenceforth. + </p> + <p> + I have also sent your honours of the ore, whereof I know some is as rich + as the earth yieldeth any, of which I know there is sufficient, if nothing + else were to be hoped for. But besides that we were not able to tarry and + search the hills, so we had neither pioneers, bars, sledges, nor wedges of + iron to break the ground, without which there is no working in mines. But + we saw all the hills with stones of the colour of gold and silver, and we + tried them to be no marcasite, and therefore such as the Spaniards call El + madre del oro or "the mother of gold," which is an undoubted assurance of + the general abundance; and myself saw the outside of many mines of the + spar, which I know to be the same that all covet in this world, and of + those more than I will speak of. + </p> + <p> + Having learned what I could in Canuri and Aromaia, and received a faithful + promise of the principallest of those provinces to become servants to her + Majesty, and to resist the Spaniards if they made any attempt in our + absence, and that they would draw in the nations about the lake of Cassipa + and those of Iwarawaqueri, I then parted from old Topiawari, and received + his son for a pledge between us, and left with him two of ours as + aforesaid. To Francis Sparrow I gave instructions to travel to + Macureguarai with such merchandises as I left with them, thereby to learn + the place, and if it were possible, to go on to the great city of Manoa. + Which being done, we weighed anchor and coasted the river on Guiana side, + because we came upon the north side, by the lawns of the Saima and Wikiri. + </p> + <p> + There came with us from Aromaia a cacique called Putijma, that commanded + the province of Warapana, which Putijma slew the nine Spaniards upon + Caroli before spoken of; who desired us to rest in the port of his + country, promising to bring us unto a mountain adjoining to his town that + had stones of the colour of gold, which he performed. And after we had + rested there one night I went myself in the morning with most of the + gentlemen of my company over-land towards the said mountain, marching by a + river's side called Mana, leaving on the right hand a town called + Tuteritona, standing in the province of Tarracoa, of which Wariaaremagoto + is principal. Beyond it lieth another town towards the south, in the + valley of Amariocapana, which beareth the name of the said valley; whose + plains stretch themselves some sixty miles in length, east and west, as + fair ground and as beautiful fields as any man hath ever seen, with divers + copses scattered here and there by the river's side, and all as full of + deer as any forest or park in England, and in every lake and river the + like abundance of fish and fowl; of which Irraparragota is lord. + </p> + <p> + From the river of Mana we crossed another river in the said beautiful + valley called Oiana, and rested ourselves by a clear lake which lay in the + middle of the said Oiana; and one of our guides kindling us fire with two + sticks, we stayed awhile to dry our shirts, which with the heat hung very + wet and heavy on our shoulders. Afterwards we sought the ford to pass over + towards the mountain called Iconuri, where Putijma foretold us of the + mine. In this lake we saw one of the great fishes, as big as a wine pipe, + which they call manati, being most excellent and wholesome meat. But after + I perceived that to pass the said river would require half-a-day's march + more, I was not able myself to endure it, and therefore I sent Captain + Keymis with six shot to go on, and gave him order not to return to the + port of Putijma, which is called Chiparepare, but to take leisure, and to + march down the said valley as far as a river called Cumaca, where I + promised to meet him again, Putijma himself promising also to be his + guide. And as they marched, they left the towns of Emperapana and + Capurepana on the right hand, and marched from Putijma's house, down the + said valley of Amariocapana; and we returning the same day to the river's + side, saw by the way many rocks like unto gold ore, and on the left hand a + round mountain which consisted of mineral stone. + </p> + <p> + From hence we rowed down the stream, coasting the province of Parino. As + for the branches of rivers which I overpass in this discourse, those shall + be better expressed in the description, with the mountains of Aio, Ara, + and the rest, which are situate in the provinces of Parino and + Carricurrina. When we were come as far down as the land called Ariacoa, + where Orenoque divideth itself into three great branches, each of them + being most goodly rivers, I sent away Captain Henry Thyn, and Captain + Greenvile with the galley, the nearest way, and took with me Captain + Gifford, Captain Caulfield, Edward Porter, and Captain Eynos with mine own + barge and the two wherries, and went down that branch of Orenoque which is + called Cararoopana, which leadeth towards Emeria, the province of + Carapana, and towards the east sea, as well to find out Captain Keymis, + whom I had sent overland, as also to acquaint myself with Carapana, who is + one of the greatest of all the lords of the Orenoqueponi. And when I came + to the river of Cumaca, to which Putijma promised to conduct Captain + Keymis, I left Captain Eynos and Master Porter in the said river to expect + his coming, and the rest of us rowed down the stream towards Emeria. + </p> + <p> + In this branch called Cararoopana were also many goodly islands, some of + six miles long, some of ten, and some of twenty. When it grew towards + sunset, we entered a branch of a river that fell into Orenoque, called + Winicapora; where I was informed of the mountain of crystal, to which in + truth for the length of the way, and the evil season of the year, I was + not able to march, nor abide any longer upon the journey. We saw it afar + off; and it appeared like a white church-tower of an exceeding height. + There falleth over it a mighty river which toucheth no part of the side of + the mountain, but rusheth over the top of it, and falleth to the ground + with so terrible a noise and clamour, as if a thousand great bells were + knocked one against another. I think there is not in the world so strange + an overfall, nor so wonderful to behold. Berreo told me that there were + diamonds and other precious stones on it, and that they shined very far + off; but what it hath I know not, neither durst he or any of his men + ascend to the top of the said mountain, those people adjoining being his + enemies, as they were, and the way to it so impassable. + </p> + <p> + Upon this river of Winicapora we rested a while, and from thence marched + into the country to a town called after the name of the river, whereof the + captain was one Timitwara, who also offered to conduct me to the top of + the said mountain called Wacarima. But when we came in first to the house + of the said Timitwara, being upon one of their said feast days, we found + them all as drunk as beggars, and the pots walking from one to another + without rest. We that were weary and hot with marching were glad of the + plenty, though a small quantity satisfied us, their drink being very + strong and heady, and so rested ourselves awhile. After we had fed, we + drew ourselves back to our boats upon the river, and there came to us all + the lords of the country, with all such kind of victual as the place + yielded, and with their delicate wine of pinas, and with abundance of hens + and other provisions, and of those stones which we call spleen-stones. We + understood by these chieftains of Winicapora that their lord, Carapana, + was departed from Emeria, which was now in sight, and that he was fled to + Cairamo, adjoining to the mountains of Guiana, over the valley called + Amariocapana, being persuaded by those ten Spaniards which lay at his + house that we would destroy him and his country. But after these caciques + of Winicapora and Saporatona his followers perceived our purpose, and saw + that we came as enemies to the Spaniards only, and had not so much as + harmed any of those nations, no, though we found them to be of the + Spaniards' own servants, they assured us that Carapana would be as ready + to serve us as any of the lords of the provinces which we had passed; and + that he durst do no other till this day but entertain the Spaniards, his + country lying so directly in their way, and next of all other to any + entrance that should be made in Guiana on that side. And they further + assured us, that it was not for fear of our coming that he was removed, + but to be acquitted of the Spaniards or any other that should come + hereafter. For the province of Cairoma is situate at the mountain foot, + which divideth the plains of Guiana from the countries of the + Orenoqueponi; by means whereof if any should come in our absence into his + towns, he would slip over the mountains into the plains of Guiana among + the Epuremei, where the Spaniards durst not follow him without great + force. But in mine opinion, or rather I assure myself, that Carapana being + a notable wise and subtle fellow, a man of one hundred years of age and + therefore of great experience, is removed to look on, and if he find that + we return strong he will be ours; if not, he will excuse his departure to + the Spaniards, and say it was for fear of our coming. + </p> + <p> + We therefore thought it bootless to row so far down the stream, or to seek + any farther of this old fox; and therefore from the river of Waricapana, + which lieth at the entrance of Emeria, we returned again, and left to the + eastward those four rivers which fall from the mountains of Emeria into + Orenoque, which are Waracayari, Coirama, Akaniri, and Iparoma. Below those + four are also these branches and mouths of Orenoque, which fall into the + east sea, whereof the first is Araturi, the next Amacura, the third + Barima, the fourth Wana, the fifth Morooca, the sixth Paroma, the last + Wijmi. Beyond them there fall out of the land between Orenoque and Amazons + fourteen rivers, which I forbear to name, inhabited by the Arwacas and + Cannibals. + </p> + <p> + It is now time to return towards the north, and we found it a wearisome + way back from the borders of Emeria, to recover up again to the head of + the river Carerupana, by which we descended, and where we parted from the + galley, which I directed to take the next way to the port of Toparimaca, + by which we entered first. + </p> + <p> + All the night it was stormy and dark, and full of thunder and great + showers, so as we were driven to keep close by the banks in our small + boats, being all heartily afraid both of the billow and terrible current + of the river. By the next morning we recovered the mouth of the river of + Cumaca, where we left Captain Eynos and Edward Porter to attend the coming + of Captain Keymis overland; but when we entered the same, they had heard + no news of his arrival, which bred in us a great doubt what might become + of him. I rowed up a league or two farther into the river, shooting off + pieces all the way, that he might know of our being there; and the next + morning we heard them answer us also with a piece. We took them aboard us, + and took our leave of Putijma, their guide, who of all others most + lamented our departure, and offered to send his son with us into England, + if we could have stayed till he had sent back to his town. But our hearts + were cold to behold the great rage and increase of Orenoque, and therefore + departed, and turned toward the west, till we had recovered the parting of + the three branches aforesaid, that we might put down the stream after the + galley. + </p> + <p> + The next day we landed on the island of Assapano, which divideth the river + from that branch by which we sent down to Emeria, and there feasted + ourselves with that beast which is called armadillo, presented unto us + before at Winicapora. And the day following, we recovered the galley at + anchor at the port of Toparimaca, and the same evening departed with very + foul weather, and terrible thunder and showers, for the winter was come on + very far. The best was, we went no less than 100 miles a day down the + river; but by the way we entered it was impossible to return, for that the + river of Amana, being in the bottom of the bay of Guanipa, cannot be + sailed back by any means, both the breeze and current of the sea were so + forcible. And therefore we followed a branch of Orenoque called Capuri, + which entered into the sea eastward of our ships, to the end we might bear + with them before the wind; and it was not without need, for we had by that + way as much to cross of the main sea, after we came to the river's mouth, + as between Gravelin and Dover, in such boats as your honour hath heard. + </p> + <p> + To speak of what passed homeward were tedious, either to describe or name + any of the rivers, islands, or villages of the Tivitivas, which dwell on + trees; we will leave all those to the general map. And to be short, when + we were arrived at the sea-side, then grew our greatest doubt, and the + bitterest of all our journey forepassed; for I protest before God, that we + were in a most desperate estate. For the same night which we anchored in + the mouth of the river of Capuri, where it falleth into the sea, there + arose a mighty storm, and the river's mouth was at least a league broad, + so as we ran before night close under the land with our small boats, and + brought the galley as near as we could. But she had as much ado to live as + could be, and there wanted little of her sinking, and all those in her; + for mine own part, I confess I was very doubtful which way to take, either + to go over in the pestered (crowded) galley, there being but six foot + water over the sands for two leagues together, and that also in the + channel, and she drew five; or to adventure in so great a billow, and in + so doubtful weather, to cross the seas in my barge. The longer we tarried + the worse it was, and therefore I took Captain Gifford, Captain Caulfield, + and my cousin Greenvile into my barge; and after it cleared up about + midnight we put ourselves to God's keeping, and thrust out into the sea, + leaving the galley at anchor, who durst not adventure but by daylight. And + so, being all very sober and melancholy, one faintly cheering another to + shew courage, it pleased God that the next day about nine o'clock, we + descried the island of Trinidad; and steering for the nearest part of it, + we kept the shore till we came to Curiapan, where we found our ships at + anchor, than which there was never to us a more joyful sight. + </p> + <p> + Now that it hath pleased God to send us safe to our ships, it is time to + leave Guiana to the sun, whom they worship, and steer away towards the + north. I will, therefore, in a few words finish the discovery thereof. Of + the several nations which we found upon this discovery I will once again + make repetition, and how they are affected. At our first entrance into + Amana, which is one of the outlets of Orenoque, we left on the right hand + of us in the bottom of the bay, lying directly against Trinidad, a nation + of inhuman Cannibals, which inhabit the rivers of Guanipa and Berbeese. In + the same bay there is also a third river, which is called Areo, which + riseth on Paria side towards Cumana, and that river is inhabited with the + Wikiri, whose chief town upon the said river is Sayma. In this bay there + are no more rivers but these three before rehearsed and the four branches + of Amana, all which in the winter thrust so great abundance of water into + the sea, as the same is taken up fresh two or three leagues from the land. + In the passages towards Guiana, that is, in all those lands which the + eight branches of Orenoque fashion into islands, there are but one sort of + people, called Tivitivas, but of two castes, as they term them, the one + called Ciawani, the other Waraweeti, and those war one with another. + </p> + <p> + On the hithermost part of Orenoque, as at Toparimaca and Winicapora, those + are of a nation called Nepoios, and are the followers of Carapana, lord of + Emeria. Between Winicapora and the port of Morequito, which standeth in + Aromaia, and all those in the valley of Amariocapana are called + Orenoqueponi, and did obey Morequito and are now followers of Topiawari. + Upon the river of Caroli are the Canuri, which are governed by a woman who + is inheritrix of that province; who came far off to see our nation, and + asked me divers questions of her Majesty, being much delighted with the + discourse of her Majesty's greatness, and wondering at such reports as we + truly made of her Highness' many virtues. And upon the head of Caroli and + on the lake of Cassipa are the three strong nations of the Cassipagotos. + Right south into the land are the Capurepani and Emparepani, and beyond + those, adjoining to Macureguarai, the first city of Inga, are the + Iwarawakeri. All these are professed enemies to the Spaniards, and to the + rich Epuremei also. To the west of Caroli are divers nations of Cannibals + and of those Ewaipanoma without heads. Directly west are the Amapaias and + Anebas, which are also marvellous rich in gold. The rest towards Peru we + will omit. On the north of Orenoque, between it and the West Indies, are + the Wikiri, Saymi, and the rest before spoken of, all mortal enemies to + the Spaniards. On the south side of the main mouth of Orenoque are the + Arwacas; and beyond them, the Cannibals; and to the south of them, the + Amazons. + </p> + <p> + To make mention of the several beasts, birds, fishes, fruits, flowers, + gums, sweet woods, and of their several religions and customs, would for + the first require as many volumes as those of Gesnerus, and for the next + another bundle of Decades. The religion of the Epuremei is the same which + the Ingas, emperors of Peru, used, which may be read in Cieza and other + Spanish stories; how they believe the immortality of the soul, worship the + sun, and bury with them alive their best beloved wives and treasure, as + they likewise do in Pegu in the East Indies, and other places. The + Orenoqueponi bury not their wives with them, but their jewels, hoping to + enjoy them again. The Arwacas dry the bones of their lords, and their + wives and friends drink them in powder. In the graves of the Peruvians the + Spaniards found their greatest abundance of treasure. The like, also, is + to be found among these people in every province. They have all many + wives, and the lords five-fold to the common sort. Their wives never eat + with their husbands, nor among the men, but serve their husbands at meals + and afterwards feed by themselves. Those that are past their younger years + make all their bread and drink, and work their cotton-beds, and do all + else of service and labour; for the men do nothing but hunt, fish, play, + and drink, when they are out of the wars. + </p> + <p> + I will enter no further into discourse of their manners, laws, and + customs. And because I have not myself seen the cities of Inga I cannot + avow on my credit what I have heard, although it be very likely that the + emperor Inga hath built and erected as magnificent palaces in Guiana as + his ancestors did in Peru; which were for their riches and rareness most + marvellous, and exceeding all in Europe, and, I think, of the world, China + excepted, which also the Spaniards, which I had, assured me to be true, as + also the nations of the borderers, who, being but savages to those of the + inland, do cause much treasure to be buried with them. For I was informed + of one of the caciques of the valley of Amariocapana which had buried with + him a little before our arrival a chair of gold most curiously wrought, + which was made either in Macureguarai adjoining or in Manoa. But if we + should have grieved them in their religion at the first, before they had + been taught better, and have digged up their graves, we had lost them all. + And therefore I held my first resolution, that her Majesty should either + accept or refuse the enterprise ere anything should be done that might in + any sort hinder the same. And if Peru had so many heaps of gold, whereof + those Ingas were princes, and that they delighted so much therein, no + doubt but this which now liveth and reigneth in Manoa hath the same + humour, and, I am assured, hath more abundance of gold within his + territory than all Peru and the West Indies. + </p> + <p> + For the rest, which myself have seen, I will promise these things that + follow, which I know to be true. Those that are desirous to discover and + to see many nations may be satisfied within this river, which bringeth + forth so many arms and branches leading to several countries and + provinces, above 2,000 miles east and west and 800 miles south and north, + and of these the most either rich in gold or in other merchandises. The + common soldier shall here fight for gold, and pay himself, instead of + pence, with plates of half-a-foot broad, whereas he breaketh his bones in + other wars for provant and penury. Those commanders and chieftains that + shoot at honour and abundance shall find there more rich and beautiful + cities, more temples adorned with golden images, more sepulchres filled + with treasure, than either Cortes found in Mexico or Pizarro in Peru. And + the shining glory of this conquest will eclipse all those so far-extended + beams of the Spanish nation. There is no country which yieldeth more + pleasure to the inhabitants, either for those common delights of hunting, + hawking, fishing, fowling, and the rest, than Guiana doth; it hath so many + plains, clear rivers, and abundance of pheasants, partridges, quails, + rails, cranes, herons, and all other fowl; deer of all sorts, porks, + hares, lions, tigers, leopards, and divers other sorts of beasts, either + for chase or food. It hath a kind of beast called cama or anta (tapir), as + big as an English beef, and in great plenty. To speak of the several sorts + of every kind I fear would be troublesome to the reader, and therefore I + will omit them, and conclude that both for health, good air, pleasure, and + riches, I am resolved it cannot be equalled by any region either in the + east or west. Moreover the country is so healthful, as of an hundred + persons and more, which lay without shift most sluttishly, and were every + day almost melted with heat in rowing and marching, and suddenly wet again + with great showers, and did eat of all sorts of corrupt fruits, and made + meals of fresh fish without seasoning, of tortugas, of lagartos or + crocodiles, and of all sorts good and bad, without either order or + measure, and besides lodged in the open air every night, we lost not any + one, nor had one ill-disposed to my knowledge; nor found any calentura or + other of those pestilent diseases which dwell in all hot regions, and so + near the equinoctial line. + </p> + <p> + Where there is store of gold it is in effect needless to remember other + commodities for trade. But it hath, towards the south part of the river, + great quantities of brazil-wood, and divers berries that dye a most + perfect crimson and carnation; and for painting, all France, Italy, or the + East Indies yield none such. For the more the skin is washed, the fairer + the colour appeareth, and with which even those brown and tawny women spot + themselves and colour their cheeks. All places yield abundance of cotton, + of silk, of balsamum, and of those kinds most excellent and never known in + Europe, of all sorts of gums, of Indian pepper; and what else the + countries may afford within the land we know not, neither had we time to + abide the trial and search. The soil besides is so excellent and so full + of rivers, as it will carry sugar, ginger, and all those other commodities + which the West Indies have. + </p> + <p> + The navigation is short, for it may be sailed with an ordinary wind in six + weeks, and in the like time back again; and by the way neither lee-shore, + enemies' coast, rocks, nor sands. All which in the voyages to the West + Indies and all other places we are subject unto; as the channel of Bahama, + coming from the West Indies, cannot well be passed in the winter, and when + it is at the best, it is a perilous and a fearful place; the rest of the + Indies for calms and diseases very troublesome, and the sea about the + Bermudas a hellish sea for thunder, lightning, and storms. + </p> + <p> + This very year (1595) there were seventeen sail of Spanish ships lost in + the channel of Bahama, and the great Philip, like to have sunk at the + Bermudas, was put back to St. Juan de Puerto Rico; and so it falleth out + in that navigation every year for the most part. Which in this voyage are + not to be feared; for the time of year to leave England is best in July, + and the summer in Guiana is in October, November, December, January, + February, and March, and then the ships may depart thence in April, and so + return again into England in June. So as they shall never be subject to + winter weather, either coming, going, or staying there: which, for my + part, I take to be one of the greatest comforts and encouragements that + can be thought on, having, as I have done, tasted in this voyage by the + West Indies so many calms, so much heat, such outrageous gusts, such + weather, and contrary winds. + </p> + <p> + To conclude, Guiana is a country that hath yet her maidenhead, never + sacked, turned, nor wrought; the face of the earth hath not been torn, nor + the virtue and salt of the soil spent by manurance. The graves have not + been opened for gold, the mines not broken with sledges, nor their images + pulled down out of their temples. It hath never been entered by any army + of strength, and never conquered or possessed by any Christian prince. It + is besides so defensible, that if two forts be builded in one of the + provinces which I have seen, the flood setteth in so near the bank, where + the channel also lieth, that no ship can pass up but within a pike's + length of the artillery, first of the one, and afterwards of the other. + Which two forts will be a sufficient guard both to the empire of Inga, and + to an hundred other several kingdoms, lying within the said river, even to + the city of Quito in Peru. + </p> + <p> + There is therefore great difference between the easiness of the conquest + of Guiana, and the defence of it being conquered, and the West or East + Indies. Guiana hath but one entrance by the sea, if it hath that, for any + vessels of burden. So as whosoever shall first possess it, it shall be + found unaccessible for any enemy, except he come in wherries, barges, or + canoas, or else in flat-bottomed boats; and if he do offer to enter it in + that manner, the woods are so thick 200 miles together upon the rivers of + such entrance, as a mouse cannot sit in a boat unhit from the bank. By + land it is more impossible to approach; for it hath the strongest + situation of any region under the sun, and it is so environed with + impassable mountains on every side, as it is impossible to victual any + company in the passage. Which hath been well proved by the Spanish nation, + who since the conquest of Peru have never left five years free from + attempting this empire, or discovering some way into it; and yet of + three-and-twenty several gentlemen, knights, and noblemen, there was never + any that knew which way to lead an army by land, or to conduct ships by + sea, anything near the said country. Orellana, of whom the river of + Amazons taketh name, was the first, and Don Antonio de Berreo, whom we + displanted, the last: and I doubt much whether he himself or any of his + yet know the best way into the said empire. It can therefore hardly be + regained, if any strength be formerly set down, but in one or two places, + and but two or three crumsters (Dutch, Kromsteven or Kromster, a vessel + with a bent prow) or galleys built and furnished upon the river within. + The West Indies have many ports, watering places, and landings; and nearer + than 300 miles to Guiana, no man can harbour a ship, except he know one + only place, which is not learned in haste, and which I will undertake + there is not any one of my companies that knoweth, whosoever hearkened + most after it. + </p> + <p> + Besides, by keeping one good fort, or building one town of strength, the + whole empire is guarded; and whatsoever companies shall be afterwards + planted within the land, although in twenty several provinces, those shall + be able all to reunite themselves upon any occasion either by the way of + one river, or be able to march by land without either wood, bog, or + mountain. Whereas in the West Indies there are few towns or provinces that + can succour or relieve one the other by land or sea. By land the countries + are either desert, mountainous, or strong enemies. By sea, if any man + invade to the eastward, those to the west cannot in many months turn + against the breeze and eastern wind. Besides, the Spaniards are therein so + dispersed as they are nowhere strong, but in Nueva Espana only; the sharp + mountains, the thorns, and poisoned prickles, the sandy and deep ways in + the valleys, the smothering heat and air, and want of water in other + places are their only and best defence; which, because those nations that + invade them are not victualled or provided to stay, neither have any place + to friend adjoining, do serve them instead of good arms and great + multitudes. + </p> + <p> + The West Indies were first offered her Majesty's grandfather by Columbus, + a stranger, in whom there might be doubt of deceit; and besides it was + then thought incredible that there were such and so many lands and regions + never written of before. This Empire is made known to her Majesty by her + own vassal, and by him that oweth to her more duty than an ordinary + subject; so that it shall ill sort with the many graces and benefits which + I have received to abuse her Highness, either with fables or imaginations. + The country is already discovered, many nations won to her Majesty's love + and obedience, and those Spaniards which have latest and longest laboured + about the conquest, beaten out, discouraged, and disgraced, which among + these nations were thought invincible. Her Majesty may in this enterprise + employ all those soldiers and gentlemen that are younger brethren, and all + captains and chieftains that want employment, and the charge will be only + the first setting out in victualling and arming them; for after the first + or second year I doubt not but to see in London a Contractation-House (the + whole trade of Spanish America passed through the Casa de Contratacion at + Seville) of more receipt for Guiana than there is now in Seville for the + West Indies. + </p> + <p> + And I am resolved that if there were but a small army afoot in Guiana, + marching towards Manoa, the chief city of Inga, he would yield to her + Majesty by composition so many hundred thousand pounds yearly as should + both defend all enemies abroad, and defray all expenses at home; and that + he would besides pay a garrison of three or four thousand soldiers very + royally to defend him against other nations. For he cannot but know how + his predecessors, yea, how his own great uncles, Guascar and Atabalipa, + sons to Guiana-Capac, emperor of Peru, were, while they contended for the + empire, beaten out by the Spaniards, and that both of late years and ever + since the said conquest, the Spaniards have sought the passages and entry + of his country; and of their cruelties used to the borderers he cannot be + ignorant. In which respects no doubt but he will be brought to tribute + with great gladness; if not, he hath neither shot nor iron weapon in all + his empire, and therefore may easily be conquered. + </p> + <p> + And I further remember that Berreo confessed to me and others, which I + protest before the Majesty of God to be true, that there was found among + the prophecies in Peru, at such time as the empire was reduced to the + Spanish obedience, in their chiefest temples, amongst divers others which + foreshadowed the loss of the said empire, that from Inglatierra those + Ingas should be again in time to come restored, and delivered from the + servitude of the said conquerors. And I hope, as we with these few hands + have displanted the first garrison, and driven them out of the said + country, so her Majesty will give order for the rest, and either defend + it, and hold it as tributary, or conquer and keep it as empress of the + same. For whatsoever prince shall possess it, shall be greatest; and if + the king of Spain enjoy it, he will become unresistible. Her Majesty + hereby shall confirm and strengthen the opinions of all nations as + touching her great and princely actions. And where the south border of + Guiana reacheth to the dominion and empire of the Amazons, those women + shall hereby hear the name of a virgin, which is not only able to defend + her own territories and her neighbours, but also to invade and conquer so + great empires and so far removed. + </p> + <p> + To speak more at this time I fear would be but troublesome: I trust in + God, this being true, will suffice, and that he which is King of all + Kings, and Lord of Lords, will put it into her heart which is Lady of + Ladies to possess it. If not, I will judge those men worthy to be kings + thereof, that by her grace and leave will undertake it of themselves. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Discovery of Guiana, by Sir Walter Raleigh + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA *** + +***** This file should be named 2272-h.htm or 2272-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/7/2272/ + +Produced by Dagny; John Bickers and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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