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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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 st