take him； and that they would be now more vehement when they should
understand of his conference with the English。 /And because/； said he；
/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。/ 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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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