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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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