enterprise； and of the great honour and riches which they attained
unto。
Now Berreo began to grow into despair； and looked for no other success
than his predecessor in this enterprise； until such time as he arrived
at the province of Emeria towards the east sea and mouth of the river；
where he found a nation of people very favourable； and the country
full of all manner of victual。 The king of this land is called
Carapana； a man very wise； subtle； and of great experience； being
little less than an hundred years old。 In his youth he was sent by his
father into the island of Trinidad； by reason of civil war among
themselves； and was bred at a village in that island； called Parico。
At that place in his youth he had seen many Christians； both French
and Spanish； and went divers times with the Indians of Trinidad to
Margarita and Cumana； in the West Indies； for both those places have
ever been relieved with victual from Trinidad： by reason whereof he
grew of more understanding； and noted the difference of the nations；
comparing the strength and arms of his country with those of the
Christians； and ever after temporised so as whosoever else did amiss；
or was wasted by contention； Carapana kept himself and his country in
quiet and plenty。 He also held peace with the Caribs or cannibals； his
neighbours； and had free trade with all nations； whosoever else had
war。
Berreo sojourned and rested his weak troop in the town of Carapana six
weeks； and from him learned the way and passage to Guiana； and the
riches and magnificence thereof。 But being then utterly unable to
proceed； he determined to try his fortune another year； when he had
renewed his provisions； and regathered more force； which he hoped for
as well out of Spain as from Nuevo Reyno； where he had left his son
Don Antonio Ximenes to second him upon the first notice given of his
entrance； and so for the present embarked himself in canoas； and by
the branches of Orenoque arrived at Trinidad； having from Carapana
sufficient pilots to conduct him。 From Trinidad he coasted Paria； and
so recovered Margarita； and having made relation to Don Juan
Sarmiento； the Governor； of his proceeding； and persuaded him of the
riches of Guiana； he obtained from thence fifty soldiers； promising
presently to return to Carapana； and so into Guiana。 But Berreo meant
nothing less at that time； for he wanted many provisions necessary for
such an enterprise； and therefore departed from Margarita； seated
himself in Trinidad； and from thence sent his camp…master and his
sergeant…major back to the borders to discover the nearest passage
into the empire； as also to treat with the borderers； and to draw them
to his party and love； without which； he knew he could neither pass
safely； nor in any sort be relieved with victual or aught else。
Carapana directed his company to a king called Morequito； assuring
them that no man could deliver so much Guiana as Morequito could； and
that his dwelling was but five days' journey from Macureguarai； the
first civil town of Guiana。
Now your lordship shall understand that this Morequito； one of the
greatest lords or kings of the borders of Guiana； had two or three
years before been at Cumana and at Margarita； in the West Indies； with
great store of plates of gold； which he carried to exchange for such
other things as he wanted in his own country； and was daily feasted；
and presented by the governors of those places； and held amongst them
some two months。 In which time one Vides； Governor of Cumana； won him
to be his conductor into Guiana； being allured by those croissants and
images of gold which he brought with him to trade； as also by the
ancient fame and magnificence of El Dorado； whereupon Vides sent into
Spain for a patent to discover and conquer Guiana； not knowing of the
precedence of Berreo's patent； which； as Berreo affirmeth； was signed
before that of Vidas。 So as when Vides understood of Berreo and that
he had made entrance into that territory； and foregone his desire and
hope； it was verily thought that Vides practised with Morequito to
hinder and disturb Berreo in all he could； and not to suffer him to
enter through his seignory； nor any of his companies； neither to
victual； nor guide them in any sort。 For Vides； Governor of Cumana；
and Berreo； were become mortal enemies； as well for that Berreo had
gotten Trinidad into his patent with Guiana； as also in that he was by
Berreo prevented in the journey of Guiana itself。 Howsoever it was； I
know not； but Morequito for a time dissembled his disposition；
suffered ten Spaniards and a friar； which Berreo had sent to discover
Manoa； to travel through his country； gave them a guide for
Macureguarai； the first town of civil and apparelled people； from
whence they had other guides to bring them to Manoa； the great city of
Inga； and being furnished with those things which they had learned of
Carapana were of most price in Guiana； went onward； and in eleven days
arrived at Manoa； as Berreo affirmeth for certain； although I could
not be assured thereof by the lord which now governeth the province of
Morequito； for he told me that they got all the gold they had in other
towns on this side Manoa； there being many very great and rich； and
（as he said） built like the towns of Christians； with many rooms。
When these ten Spaniards were returned； and ready to put out of the
border of Aromaia （the district below the Caroni river）； the people of
Morequito set upon them； and slew them all but one that swam the
river； and took from them to the value of 40；000 pesos of gold； and
one of them only lived to bring the news to Berreo； that both his nine
soldiers and holy father were benighted in the said province。 I myself
spake with the captains of Morequito that slew them； and was at the
place where it was executed。 Berreo； enraged herewithal； sent all the
strength he could make into Aromaia； to be revenged of him； his
people； and country。 But Morequito； suspecting the same； fled over
Orenoque； and through the territories of the Saima and Wikiri
recovered Cumana； where he thought himself very safe； with Vides the
governor。 But Berreo sending for him in the king's name； and his
messengers finding him in the house of one Fajardo； on the sudden； ere
he was suspected； so as he could not then be conveyed away； Vides
durst not deny him； as well to avoid the suspicion of the practice； as
also for that an holy father was slain by him and his people。
Morequito offered Fajardo the weight of three quintals in gold； to let
him escape； but the poor Guianian； betrayed on all sides； was
delivered to the camp…master of Berreo； and was presently executed。
After the death of this Morequito； the soldiers of Berreo spoiled his
territory and took divers prisoners。 Among others they took the uncle
of Morequito； called Topiawari； who is now king of Aromaia； whose son
I brought with me into England； and is a man of great understanding
and policy； he is above an hundred years old； and yet is of a very
able body。 The Spaniards led him in a chain seventeen days； and made
him their guide from place to place between his country and Emeria；
the province of Carapana aforesaid； and he was at last redeemed for an
hundred plates of gold； and divers stones called piedras hijadas； or
spleen…stones。 Now Berreo for executing of Morequito； and other
cruelties； spoils； and slaughters done in Aromaia； hath lost the love
of the Orenoqueponi； and of all the borderers； and dare not send any
of his soldiers any further into the land than to Carapana； which he
called the port of Guiana； but from thence by the help of Carapana he
had trade further into the country； and always appointed ten Spaniards
to reside in Carapana's town （the Spanish settlement of Santo Tome de
la Guyana； founded by Berrio in 1591 or 1592； but represented by
Raleigh as an Indian pueblo）； by whose favour； and by being conducted
by his people； those ten searched the country thereabouts； as well for
mines as for other trades and commodities。
They also have gotten a nephew of Morequito； whom they have christened
and named Don Juan； of whom they have great hope； endeavouring by all
means to establish him in the said province。 Among many other trades；
those Spaniards used canoas to pass to the rivers of Barema； Pawroma；
and Dissequebe （Essequibo）； which are on the south side of the mouth
of Orenoque； and there buy women and children from the cannibals；
which are of that barbarous nature； as they will for three or four
hatchets sell the sons and daughters of their own brethren and
sisters； and for somewhat more even their own daughters。 Hereof the
Spaniards make great profit； for buying a maid of twelve or thirteen
years for three or four hatchets； they sell them again at Margarita in
the West Indies for fifty and an hundred pesos； which is so many
crowns。
The master of my ship； John Douglas； took one of the canoas which came
laden from thence with people to be sold； and the most of them
escaped； yet of those he brought； there was one as well favoured and
as well shaped as ever I saw any in England； and afterwards I saw many
of them； which but for their tawny colour may be compared to any in
Europe。 They also trade in those rivers for bread of cassavi； of which
they buy an hundred pound weight for a knife； and sell it at Margarita
for ten pesos。 They also recover great store of cotton； Brazil wood；
and those beds which they call hamacas or Brazil beds； wherein in hot
countries all the Spaniards use to lie commonly； and in no other；
neither did we ourselves while we were there。 By means of which
trades； for ransom of divers of the Guianians； and for exchange of
hatchets and knives； Berreo recovered some store of gold plates；
eagles of gold； and images of men and divers birds； and dispatched his
camp…master for Spain； with all that he had gathered； therewith to
levy soldiers； and by the show thereof to draw others to the love of
the enterprise。 And having sent divers images as well of men as
beasts； birds； and fishes； so curiously wrought in gold； he doubted
not but to persuade the king to yield to him some further help；
especially for that this land hath never been sacked； the m