people。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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。