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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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 i