Situation and Description ofGuiana.
Northward ofBrasile, over againstMaragnan, the Countrey ofGuiana, not improbably suppos’d to be so call’d from the RiverWia, one of the principal Rivers of the Province, which yet is said to have more and fairer than any other part ofAmericabesides: It is by some call’dThe Wild Coast, for what reason is uncertain, it being found to be a very fruitful and pleasant Countrey: It is Bounded on the East with theAtlantickOcean, orMare del Nordt; on the West, with some undiscover’d mountainous Countreys, which lie on that side of theAndes, on the North it hath the great RiverOrenoque; and on the South that of theAmazons, orOrellana; which last Name, as we have said before, it derives fromFrancisco Orellana, who is said to have first discover’d it in the Year 1543. It was anciently call’dTobo,Topoi, andTapera.
This Countrey lieth on both sides of theÆquator, extended from the fourth Degree of Southern Latitude, to the eighth Degree of Northern, yet enjoyeth a temperate and good Air, not oppressed with any excessive Heat; which is chiefly attributed to the Breezes or Easterly Winds, almost perpetually about Noon blowing upon it. Towards the Sea-side it is for the most part a flat and level Countrey, in the more Inland parts mountainous and swell’d with Hills, but in all it is generally of such a rich and fertile Soil, that for Fruits, or any outward Commodities of the Earth, it yields not to any other Province of theNew World, but rather far excelleth the most, having as it were a continual Summer, without Winter or Autumn, the Trees never uncloth’d or made bare, Fruits always ripe, or growing to maturity, the Meadows and Pastures always verdant and green, and, as we said, so excellently well water’d with Rivers, that no Countrey in the World seems comparable to it in this respect. But since the several Occurrences ofOrellana’s Expedition will give much light to the more particular knowledge of these Parts, we thought good to insert this following Relation thereof.
Francisco Orellanatravelling withGonsalvo PizarrofromQuito, to find out the CountreyCundirumarca(where the Natives, according to the information of a strangeAmerican, went Arm’d with Golden Plates) he came after a great deal of hardship to the RiverMaranon, wherePizarrobuilding a Brigantine, put all his sick and maimed Men into the same, as also all his Baggage under the Command ofOrellana, whom he commanded to forage for some Provisions, of which the Army, that was to follow along the Shore, had great want; butOrellanawas in few days driven down so far, that he saw no hopes of getting up again in a years time, and Engag’d daily with theIndians, which came aboard of him in little Boats; at last he went ashore and conquer’d a Village, in which he found Provisions, some Gold, and Gems of great value: Not long after which he was in great danger, by reason of a River, which with great force fell into the Channel in which he Sail’d,and for the space of two hundred Leagues saw neither Man nor House: Next Landing at a Village, he was by the Governor thereof Presented with Turtles, Partridges, Fish, and other Provisions, and also forewarn’d of the valiant Women, theAmazones, which they call’dCamapuyara. Going from hence, he met for eighty Leagues together, nothing but steep and craggy Mountains on each side of the Shore, insomuch that he could not Land any where for Provisions. Next coming to the inhabited ProvinceMachiparo, he was fiercely assaulted for two days and two nights, by the CasiqueAomagua, who pursu’d him with several Boats: Not long after having conquer’d a Village, out of which ran several trodden Paths into the Countrey, he came to a River, in the Mouth whereof there lying three Isles, he gave it the Denomination ofLa Trinidad, which washeth a fruitful Coast, along which Sail’d divers small Vessels. Somewhat farther in the RiverTrinidadstood a Village and Banquetting-house, whereOrellanatook abundance of Provisions, Silver, Gold, and Earthen Ware curiously Glaz’d and Painted, but judg’d it very hazardous to travel far into the Countrey by the common High-ways, in regard of the multitudes of People that frequented them, to whose Civility he durst not trust; therefore Sailing from hence a hundred Leagues farther, he came to the Countrey belonging to the Lord ofPaguana, who civilly Entertain’d him, and Presented him with Sheep, not unlike thePeruvians, and all manner of good Fruit, which the Countrey affords in great abundance. After this on his Lar-board side he discover’d a River, whose being black like Ink, and disemboguing into another, discolour’d the Water thereof for the space of twenty Leagues; he also saw several Villages, and at last found the Stream to be so broad, that he could not see from one Shore to the other: he took one of the Villages without any resistance, there being none but Women in the Huts, whither the Men came towards the Evening. Near another Village he espy’d seven Heads sticking upon Poles, from whence the Province receiv’d the DenominationDe las Picotas, from whence ran several pav’d Ways, on each side planted with Trees, into the Countrey; where Landing, he furnish’d himself withMaiz, Turtles, Geese, and Parrots, and atCanIsland took anAmericanPrisoner, who inform’d him, that he was in theAmazones’Jurisdiction, and that up in the Countrey liv’d a People not unlike theSpaniards, amongst whom were two white Women, brought thither up the River by a Lord. Going farther he saw divers Villages on each side of him, and at last Landing in a little Town, he found plenty of Oats, Liquor made of Oats, Cotton, Linnen, a Temple hung round about with Arms, and two Episcopal Miters of divers colours. Near a Promontory jutting out into the River, the Tide went so strong, that he was not able to Land; upon the Point stood several fair Buildings, where were also white Women, of a big stature, with long Hair, who animated the Men to fight. This Countrey, which extends it self a hundred and fifty Leagues along the Shore, with Hills, Pasture-Grounds, and Champain, and well inhabited, being discover’d onSt. John’s Day, was call’dThe Province De San Juan; which leaving, he came to several Isles, the biggest whereof extended fifty Leagues in length, all of them standing on high Ground, pleasant, and full of People, who in Boats, by them call’dPeriagues, valiantly Engag’d with theSpaniards; but one of them not long after being taken Prisoner, inform’d them, that theAmazonesdwelt in Stone Houses, Wall’d Towns, had plenty of Silver and Gold, and four stately Temples enrich’d with Plates, Dedicated to the Sun. ButOrellanaSailing a hundred Leagues farther, along a Coast belonging to the Lord ofCaripuna, according to the Prisoner’s Relation, the Inhabitants hereabouts shot abundance of poyson’d Arrows at theSpaniards, but they made a shift to escape them, and Sailing within sight of Land into the Bay ofParia, they came to an Anchor before the IslandCubugua, Anno 1541. after they had been eight hundred Leagues.
ARX NASSOVII.
The Expedition ofOrellana.
He dies with Grief.
Orellanainforming theSpanishCourt of his Adventures, desir’d the chief Command of the Province of theAmazones, which after earnest Sollicitations he obtain’d, and accordingly setting Sail fromSt. Lucar, he went to the IslandTeneriffwith three Ships and five hundred Men, where he stay’d three Moneths, and two onCape de Verd. OnTeneriffseveral of his Men ran from him, and onCape de Verdhe bury’d ninety eight, and left fifty sick behind him; yet he Steer’d toBrasile, where, meeting with contrary Winds, he had undoubtedly perish’d for lack of Water, if the great Showers of Rain had not supply’d his Wants, one of his Ships carrying seventy Men and eleven Horses, was never heard of, with the other two he Sail’d byBaxos de San Roque, and from thence a hundred Leagues Northwardly beyondMaragnan, where a great way off at Sea they found fresh Water, in whichOrellanaSteering, got between the Isles into the RiverDe las Amazones, where he Barter’d for Provisions, Sail’d two Leagues up the River, and came to an Anchor before a few Huts, but slenderly stor’d with Provisions, where he spent three Moneths in breaking up one of his Ships, and building a Ketch. In the mean time fifty seven of his Seamen dy’d. Sailing twenty Leagues farther, he lost his best Ship; whereupon he gave order to build a Barque of the Wreck. Thus he spent thirty days in vain to find the fore mention’d Arm of the RiverAmazones: the Barque being finish’d in ten Weeks, and going beyond the IslesMaribiqueandContan, found the three great Rivers to disembogue into the RiverAmazones, which there was twelve Leagues broad; but wanting Provisions, and the Men being too weak to go farther, they came back to the fruitful IslandComao, where a hundredSpaniardssetled themselves, the rest going down with the Barque to find outOrellana, who, as his Wife inform’d them, dy’d with Grief.
TheEnglishandNetherlanders, who Sail’d hither after theSpaniardsleft off, ascribe a Breadth of fifty or sixty Leagues to the Mouth of theAmazoneRiver, which discharges its Water with such force into the Northern Ocean, that it keeps its colour and taste above thirty Leagues, according to the ocular testimony of CaptainHarcourt. The Western Point, by theNetherlanderscall’dThe North Cape, runs with a long Slip of low Land into the Sea, into which more North-Westerly fall the StreamsTaponnowyny,Arowary,Arykary,Cassepouri, andWiapoca; some of them wash great Wildernesses full of Trees; others glide between pleasant Meadows.
Eighty Leagues up theAmazoneRiver theVlussingershave built a Fort call’dNassaw, on the narrow IslandCogemines, which is twenty Leagues long, and separated from the Shore by a Creek, and seven Leagues farther, on another Isle, the FortOrange; from which two Forts they Trade with the Natives,ArowaccasandApehous, barteringEuropeanTrifles for Tobacco, Cotton, Sugar, Gums, and several Tinctures.
SirWalter RaleighsendsFisherto discoverCoosheberyProvince.
SirWalter Raleigh, Anno 1595. sending CaptainFisherfromWiapocotoLeonard Ragapo, some years before Baptiz’d inEngland, and then Governor of the ProvinceCooshebery, lying between theAmazoneRiver andWapoco, he receiv’dFishervery civilly, and conducted him fifty Leagues up into the Countrey, to the MountainCowob, on whose top is a deep Pool, full of well tasted Fish, and surrounded with the glittering StonesTopaz; whichRaleightook the more notice of, because the same Ground in theEast-Indieswhere these Stones are found, incloses also Diamonds. Moreover, the ProvinceCoosheberyrises with pleasant Hills, but consists most in delightful Fields and Woods.
The RiverArocawo, falling into the InletWiapoco, disembogues also with thesame between the CapesOrangeandComariboo, into the Northern Ocean.
Most of the Rivers inGuianalie full of Isles, and cannot be Navigated far, by reason of the great Water-falls.
TheYayos.
TheYayos, who inhabit on the Banks of the fore-mention’d River, are People of a good Disposition, and go naked: they catch Fish after a strange manner; for they onely throw the strong smelling WoodAyawin the Water, which works so upon the Fish, that they suffer themselves to be caught with the Hand. The well-knownAmericanRootCassaviserves them for Bread, being bak’d in round Cakes on hot Stones: of the Cakes they also make the LiquorPerrinoe, which tastes almost like stale Beer, and is prepar’d by old Women and little Children, which chew theCassavi, and spit the same into a Pot full of Water, which having stood a while, they strain the same through a Cloth, and set it a working with Potato-Roots.
They are troubled with no Vermine, not so much as the little FleasNiquas, by theSpaniardscall’dChigos, which creep in between the Nails.
On the Sea-Coast are many Tortoises, whose Flesh is of a delicious taste, but heavy to digest.
Sheep and Oxen will not thrive here, but Swine would thrive exceedingly, if their Dugs were not bit off in the Night by the Bats.
The RiverWiapocohath many dangerous Water-falls, the one much higher than the other; a little way beyond the first of them the StreamArmyfalls intoWiapoco.
TheMarashewaccas.
Three days Journey Westerly dwell theMarashewaccas, whose Ears hang down on their Shoulders; they worship for their Deity, an Image representing a Man, who sitting flat on the Ground, with his Legs stretch’d out, leans with his Elbows on his Knees, and holding up his Hands, gapes and stares up towards Heaven.
North-West fromWiapocorises the MountainGomeribo, which producesMaiz, Tobacco, Cotton-Trees, and Vines.
In the same place the CreekWainaryruns Westwardly with fresh Water a days Journey into the Countrey; and from the said Creek a high Mountain, fit for the production of Sugar and Tobacco, extends it self to the RiverApurwaca, where theWiopocariesinhabit a great Tract of Land.
TheHarrithiahans.
North-West fromWiapocoflows the RiverAperwacque, whose mountainous Shores bearBrasileWood and wild Cinamon. The Stream it self takes its original out of a large Lake, in the middle whereof lies a three-corner’d Isle. South-East from the Lake dwell theHarrithiahans, beyond whose Countrey are the RiversCauwo,Wia, andCajani. On the Banks of the first dwelt,Anno 1596.according to the Relation ofLaurence Keymis, a People call’dJaos, driven by theSpaniardsfromMoruga, and who formerly possess’d the greatest part ofGuiana; they distinguish themselves from other People, by pricking their Faces full of Holes with the Tooth of a Beast not unlike a Rat: But at present, theJaosbeing departed from hence, the Countrey lies desolate.
TheWia, which springs a great way up in the Countrey, hath a wide Mouth, and near several Islands convenient Harbors: The biggest of the Isles, inhabited by theShebaios, is full of Provisions,viz.Fowl, Fish, excellent Fruit, wild Hogs, and other Beasts.
The triangular Isles, lying more Westerly, are also very fruitful, but not comparable toGowatery. So far as the Coast extends it self with high Mountains, it is overgrown withBrasileWood, but the lower Grounds produce Cotton, Pepper, Silk, Balsam, and the RootWiapassa, tasting like Ginger, and exceeding good against a Lask, or the Head-ache.
Before the Mouth ofCajaniappears the high IslandMattoory, surrounded by the lesser IslesSannawony,Epenesari, andEponeregemeræ.
Between the RiversCajaniandMaccaria, lies the low IslandMuccumbro, out of whose Center rise two Mountains, and which is inhabited, as the Main Coast byCaribbeeans, whose GeneralArrawicaryshew’d great friendship to theNetherlanders: They observe no certain Laws for Government; Adultery and Murder they punish with Death; they are very tyrannical towards their Wives, who for the least act of incivility have their Brains beat out; they esteem one another according to the number of their Wives, the eldest of which performs all Houshold-Offices.
Caribbeeansthe Inhabitants ofGuiana.
TheCaribbeeansare accounted to have been the first Inhabitants of this Countrey, for theJaos,Sappaios,Arowaccas, andParagotos, were driven hither by theSpaniardsfromTrinidadorOronoque.
The wildCaribbeeanslive farther up into the Countrey, and often fall with great rage upon the other; but since theNetherlandershave furnish’d them with Arms, they have not been so much molested by them.
Rivers.
BeyondMacavialies the RiverCaurora, which is very narrow and deep; and next in order the RiversManamonary,Sinamary,Cunanama,Juraca,Mawary,Amana, andMarawyny, full of Isles, and four Leagues broad at the Mouth; along the Shore grow little Trees, whose Leaves wither as soon as touch’d by Mankind, but revives again within half an hour.
Next follow the RiversSorrenam,Sorrenamme,Copanama,Marateca, andCuretiny, where theNetherlanders, by virtue of a Patent granted by theStates General, drove a Trade for several years.
Somewhat farther theBerbice,Apari,Maycawini,Mabeyca,MiraraandEssekebe, discharge their Waters into the Ocean, twenty days Journey from their Spring-Head, where a great Lake (by theJaoscall’dThe Roponowini, and by theCaribbeeans,Parime) spreads it self a great way; and on its Northern Shore hath the TownManoa.
Along the RiverEssebekeis an excellent sort of Wood, the Dye call’dOrellano, and abundance ofCassavi: In the Mouth of the River also lies the IsleOttoma.
Lastly, betweenEssebekeand the great RiverOrinoque, glide the lesser StreamsIwapoi,Pauroma,Gayni,Moruga,Ammacoura, andParima, before which lie several nameless Isles.
The Discovery of these Parts begun byColumbus.
Diego de Ordashis Expedition.
Christopher Columbus, in his third Voyage to theWest-Indies, discover’d the great IslandTrinidad, where before the Mouth of the BayVallenahe was in great danger, as also the Ship Commanded byAlonso de Ojeda, by reason of the Waves, with which the great RiverYuyapar, otherwise call’dOrinoque, coming out of the High-lands ofParia, falls into the Sea, which made him call the said MouthBocca del Drago; so thatColumbus, Anno 1599. discover’d the Main Coast ofAmericato the Northward ofGuiana, as far as the PromontoryDe la Vela, beforeAmericus Vesputius; whitherDiego de OrdasSteer’d with three Ships, Mann’d with four hundredCastilians, in the Year 1531.and beforeGuianatook fourCaribbeeansPrisoners in aCanoo, and finding anEmerauldabout them as big as a Man’s Hand, they inform’d him, that up the River was a Rock all of such Stones, and a Mountain on which grew high Trees, yielding store of Myrrh; but the strong contrary Tides and Water-falls preventedOrdasfrom going thither; and being troubled at the loss of one of his Ships, he ran along the Shore toParia, and took the Fort whichAntonio Sedenno, Governor ofTrinidad, had cast up there, and left the Command thereof toJuan Gonsalvez,Ordaspretending thatSedennohad built it contrary to the Emperor’s Order, and that he had made Slaves of the Natives.Martin Jannez Tafurstay’d in the conquer’d Fort according toOrdashis appointment, who went up the RiverOrinoquenotwithout great hardship; for his Provisions were not onely short, but he was tormented in the Day by theMuschitoes, and in the Night by the Bats; at last coming to a Village Commanded byViapari, he was kindly Entertain’d, which madeOrdascontrary to the will of his Men, who would willingly have gone farther into the Countrey, stay there all the Winter; but as soon as the rainy Moneths were over,Ordaswent farther up the RiverOrinoque, where his Ship was stav’d against a sandy Shelf, which forc’d him with two hundred Foot and forty Horse, to travel along the Shore, where he was much scanted of Provisions, and for forty days together met none but a few poor wild Fishermen, and at last stopt at an unknown River, which fell into theOrinoque. TheGuianianGuide whichViaparihad givenOrdas, advis’d him to go along the Shore of the new River; because it would lead them to a well Cloth’d and rich People: ButOrdaswent along by the RiverOronoquetill he came where the Water falling from the Mountains makes it so terrible rough, thatOrdashis Vessels, which were Toed along, were not able to be got any farther, so that after two hundred Leagues advance, he was necessitated, by reason of the fore-mention’d Water-falls, to go aboard and Sail down the Stream: His Men being weary’d with so troublesom a Journey, forsook him on the IslandCubagua, which made him return overHispaniolatoSpain, where not long after he dy’d with Grief.
The Expedition ofHieronimo Ortall.
This unsuccessful Expedition ofOrdasno way dauntedHieronimo Ortallfrom prosecuting the same Design; for setting Sail fromSt. Lucas, Anno 1533. to the Fort whichOrdashad taken fromJuan Gonsalves, he Steer’d from thence over toCubagua, to fetch some Men, and sent the LieutenantAlonso Herrerawith five Ketches, carrying two hundred Men, the same way whichOrdashad been.Herreracoming to the fore-mention’d Water-falls whereOrdasreturn’d, caus’d his Vessels to be unladen, then Toed them by meer force over the Water-falls, where he discover’d plain Fields without any Inhabitants, extending themselves to the Mouth of the RiverMeta, where he quitted his Vessels, and with no small trouble got over Morasses and Pools to the fruitful Countrey of theXaguas, a People both cruel and valiant; whom after a sharp Conflict vanquishing, he became Master of their Village, in which he found plenty of Provisions, as also in another neighboring Town, where his tir’d, and almost starv’d Army began to take Breath, being exceedingly refresh’d with the delicious Meat of a sort of wild Dogs, which were here in great abundance. Having spent the Winter Season here, they were often set upon by theCaribbeeans, by whose poyson’d Arrows several of them being shot, dy’d Distracted, and amongst the restHerrerahimself; after which his SuccessorAlvaro Ordasreturn’d to the Vessels, which were left at the Mouth of the RiverMeta, from whence he Sail’d back without any other success, the Design being to find out the Golden CityManoa, on the Banks of the great LakeParime.
Is follow’d byHermandesand others.
Not long afterPeter Hermandez de Serpaundertook the same Work with three hundredSpaniards, severalBrasiliansandNegro’s; but before he could reach the RiverOrinoque, he was destroy’d by the salvage PeopleWikiri, eighteen of his Men onely escaping to bring the news of this sad Disaster.
Peter de Orsuafollowing the footsteps ofGonsalvo Pizarro, went to seek for Gold inGuiana; but being kill’d byLopes Agiranear theAmazoneRiver, that Expedition also prov’d fruitless.
Berreo’s Relation of his Adventures to SirWalter Raleigh.
With the same desire of finding Gold inGuiana,Antonio Berreowent fromNew Granadathither; but being taken by SirWalter Raleigh, was interrupted in his Design; however, he gave him an Account of his Adventures, so far as he had gone,viz.That he went to find out a Way along the RiverCassanor, betweenNew GranadaandNew Guiana, went fromCassanorto the StreamMeta, and from thence toOrinoque, where he was in great danger, by reason of sharp Rocks, over which the Stream flowing, washes several Isles; That he spent a whole year before he came to the utmost Borders ofAmapaia; near which he lost several of his Barques, and on the Shore, not onely divers Horses, but also many of his Men, who either dy’d of hardship, or were kill’d by the Natives with poysonous Arrows, so that sixty of his Men were kill’d in the Countrey ofAmapaia, which extends along the River Orinoque, besides a great many that dy’d there by drinking the Water, which was full of poysonous Animals, and glided over a slimy and muddy Ground, which made it thick and troubled: Six Moneths he stay’d in the CountreyAmapaia, where he made Peace with the Inhabitants ofAnebas, who gave him ten curious Images of massie Gold. The RiverOrinoqueis about four Leagues broad here, and about seven hundred Miles long, before it fall into the Ocean, and is every where enrich’d with the Waters of many Rivers which fall into it from the North and South: He added moreover, that he endeavor’d to go down Southerly toGuiana, but was prevented by steep Mountains, and therefore went on Easterly till he came to the CountreyEmeria, where he found a courteous People, and plenty of Provisions; that the Governor ofCaripana, being about a hundred years of age, had a long time Convers’d with theChristianson the IslandsTrinidadandMargareta, and learn’d a Form of Civil Government; that Sailing down the RiverOrinoquebetween many Isles lying at the Mouth of the River toTrinidad, and from thence toMargareta, he took sixty Men into his Service; but that he himself, being tir’d with so great a Journey, and staying to refresh himself atTrinidad, fell into the hands of another Party of theEnglish; that before he was taken he sent several of his Men toCaripana, to find the King ofMorequito, who three years before had been with abundance of Gold atCumanaandMargareta, and inform’d aSpaniardcall’dVidesso much concerning the Golden CountreyGuiana, that he obtain’d a Patent at theSpanishCourt to discoverGuiana; but thatVides, jealous that he might be there before him, had not onely incens’dMorequitoagainst him, but so instructed him, that he suffer’d his Men to pass through the Countrey to fetch Gold from the CityManoa, and as they return’d, set upon them and slew them on the Borders ofAromaia, together with a Monk that was in their Company, one Man onely escaping; by whom being inform’d of the Murder, he immediately sent divers Soldiers to take Revenge ofMorequito, who flying to the GovernorVides, was nevertheless, upon his demanding him in the King’s Name, deliver’d to him; and notwithstanding he proffer’d a great Sum of Money for his Ransom, was cruelly put to Death; but not satisfi’d with that Revenge, he over-run all the Countrey ofAromaia, tookMorequito’s Uncle, call’dTopiawari, Prisoner, who bought his Life for a hundred Plates of Gold, and some Precious Stones; That Listing many Men inSpainfor the Gold which he sent thither, he Row’d with Barques up the RiversBarema,Pattroma, andDessequebe, where he barter’d Trifles for Men, Women, and Children, of whom he made great Sums of Money on the IslandMargareta.
This Information which SirWalter Raleighgot from his PrisonerBerreo, made him desirous to make an Expedition toGuiana; to which purpose he sent CaptainGeorge Giffordwith a Ketch and a Barque to the RiverCapuri, where the Water fell before the Vessels could get beyond the Sands in the Mouth of the River.
John Donglashad better success, being likewise sent out by SirWalter Raleigh, for he with his Boats found thatOrinoquehad nine Arms to the North Sea, and seven to the South, which embrace divers Isles, of which those on the right side are call’dPallamos, and those on the left,Horotomaca. The Mouth of the River gapes a hundredLeagues. On the fore-mention’d Isles dwell theTitiriras, a modest People, who speak a bald Language; in the Summer they live under the open Skie upon the bare Earth, and in the Winter (being there betweenMayandSeptember) on the tops of the Trees, because during that time the RiverOrinoquerising thirty Foot higher, overflows all the Isles thereabouts, which are very high and mountainous. ButRaleighhimself Rowing up the RiverAmana, endur’d great hardship, his Men being most of them sweltred with the Heat, and great want of Provisions; and had not theirIndianPilot shew’d them another Stream much easier to Navigate, he would have been forc’d to return successless; but being stor’d with Provision out of a Village built along the Shore, he chased fourCanoos, of which he took one, and also anAtwaccas, which in fifteen days time brought him into the RiverOrinoque, where he saw the high Mountains ofGuiana; afterwards Anchoring before a fair sandy Bank, which lay near the Mouth of three Rivers, he took abundance of Tortoises, and was furnish’d with plenty of all sorts of Provisions, sent him from the GovernorToparimaca, who inhabited the pleasant VillageArowocay, built on a little Hill, surrounded with delightful Gardens, and Fields till’d by theNegro’s; who accommodatingRaleighwith an experienc’d Pilot, he set Sail with a fresh Easterly Wind, and Westward saw the IslesAssapana, twenty five Leagues long, and six broad, andIwana, of the same bigness. The RiverOrinoquehath here thirty Leagues in breadth, and receives the RiversArrawopanaandEuropa: He Sail’d next by the IslesOcaywitaandPutayma, opposite to which on the Main Land appears the MountainOecope, whose top reacheth the Clouds; on the right side a Plain Countrey discover’d it self a vast way, which the Pilot said was call’dThe Plain of Sayma, extending Northerly a hundred and twenty Leagues toCumanaandCaracas, inhabited by four sorts of People,viz.theSaymas,Assaways,WikeriesandAroras; which last, being a Coal-black People, us’d poyson’d Arrows.Raleighpassing between the two MountainsAroamiandAio, came to an Anchor near the IslandMurscolima, and from thence into the HavenMorequito, where the KingTopiawari, a hundred and ten years of age, brought all sorts of Fruit, Poultrey, Fish and Flesh, and gave him an Account of the Condition ofGuiana,viz.That the whole Countrey from the MountainsWaccarimatoEmeria, bore the Name ofGuiana, the Inhabitants calling themselvesOrinoque Poni; on the other side of the said Mountains lies the spacious ValleyAmariocapana, where theGuianiatasreside. Southerly theOreionesandEpuremei, who coming out of a strange Countrey, have destroy’d the ancient Inhabitants, leaving onely theAwaawaqueriandCassipagoios. TheEpuremeibuilt the stately CityMacurewaraithere. ButRaleighgoing on his Journey saw the IslandCaiama, and came to the Mouth of the RiverCaroli, whose strong Current he was not able to stem, wherefore he desir’d Aid fromWanuretona, Governor ofCanuria, who furnish’d him with Provisions, and Men to Toe him up the fore-mention’d Stream; and inform’d him that the RiverCaroli, which sprung out of the LakeCassipa, was inhabited on one side by theIwarawakeri, and the LakeCassipaby three powerful People,viz.theCassiapagotos,EparagotosandArawogotos, all mortal Enemies to theSpaniards: whereuponRaleighsent some of his Men thither, who return’d with great hopes of finding rich Gold-Mines. The fore-mention’d Lake also produces the RiversAroi,Atoica, andCaora, near which dwell theEwaipanoma, who have neither Necks nor Chins, but their Mouthes just upon their Shoulders. Towards the North the RiverCarifalls into theOrinoque, and on the West the StreamLimo; between both which theCannibalsreside, whose Metropolis call’dAcamacariis very famous for their strange way of Trading; for there the Women are brought to Market, and bought by theArwaccas: But because great Showers of Rain fell daily, and theStreamCaroliglided downwards with extraordinary force,Raleighreturn’d toMorequito; from whencePutima, King ofWarapana, conduced him to a rich Golden Mountain in his Countrey, and along the RiversMana,Oiana, andCumaca, to the place where theOrinoquedivides it self into three excellent Streams, the chiefest whereof, call’dCararoopana, washes the ProvinceEmeria, out of whose Mountains the RiversWaracayari,Coirama,Akaniri, andIparoma, glide to the Northern Ocean; as also theAraturi,Amacura,Barima,Wana,Morooca,Paroma, andWyni, all Branches of the RiverOrinoque: From whenceRaleighreturn’d home toEngland.
Not long after he sentLaurence KeymesandThomas Mashamback toGuiana:Keymesfound out all the Rivers between theAmazonesand theOrinoque, andMashamthe StreamWiapoco; from whence both return’d without any farther success.
SirWalter Raleighcondemn’d for Treason.
He is Repriev’d and sent again toGuiana.
RaleighuponGundamor’s Accusation Beheaded.
After this the Business lay still for a while, in regard SirWalter Raleighbeing (together withGrey,Cobham, and theRomishPriests,WatsonandClark) found guilty of High Treason, was Condemn’d to die; but being Repriev’d by the King, was kept a Prisoner in theTowerfor the space of fourteen years; during which time he wrote a Description ofGuiana; which the King perusing, was so well pleas’d with it, especially since he undertook to make out by several Reasons, thatEnglandmight make it self Master of divers Gold-Mines there, to whichSpaincould lay no manner of Claim, that he discharg’d him out of Prison, and permitted him to make a second Expedition: Whereupon with ten Ships,Anno 1617.he set Sail forGuianaagain; being toss’d with divers Storms, he at last came with five Sail to the RiverCalliana, where he fell dangerously sick, and therefore sent CaptainKeymeswith five Sail to the RiverOrinoque, to conduct the Men to the Gold-Mines; each Ship carrying fifty Men, and the other Captains beingParker,North,Thornap, and SirWalter Raleigh’s Son. TheSpaniardshaving a Garrison atOrinoque, fir’d very fiercely at theEnglish, who suffer’d great damage, and amongst divers others, CaptainRaleighhimself was slain, whilest the other five Sail lay near the IslandTrinidad, underJohn Pennington’s Command, who daily fear’d theSpanishFleet. ButKeymesfound it very difficult to Land inOrinoque, by reason of the Banks along the Shore, whichDiego de PalamequefromPuerto Ricokept strongly guarded; therefore going to an even Shore with intention to Land, he was so sharply receiv’d by a Body ofSpanishMusquetteers, that divers of his Men were mortally wounded; yet breaking in amongst them, he went towards the Gold-Mines, to which the Way led through a Wood where theSpaniardslay in Ambuscade; but he judg’d himself too weak to do any good upon the Mines, one of which belong’d toPeter Rodrigo de Parama, a second toHerviano Frontino, and the third toFrancisco Fashardo: TheEnglishalso were fearful, by reason of theSpaniardsCruelties, who not long before had flay’d several Merchants alive; so thatKeymescontented himself with pillaging and burning the TownSt. Thomas, which theSpaniardshad deserted. Soon after which CaptainWhitbyran away with a Ship from the Fleet, whilestKeymesreturn’d back toRaleigh, who laid several things to his Charge concerning the unnecessary Expence and shame of such an unsuccessful Voyage; which so wrought uponKeymes, that he offer’d to lay violent hands on himself in his Cabbin. At lengthRaleighreturning toLondon, was accus’d by theSpanishAmbassadorGundamorfor the burningSt. Thomas, urging that his Master resented it so ill, that he threatned to wage a War withEnglandifRaleighwas not Executed; who notwithstanding he alledg’d, That theSpaniardsshew’d the first Acts of Hostility against theEnglish, who onely defended themselves; and thatSt. Thomaswas burnt without his knowledge or Order; and thatKeymeshad not observ’d his Command in the discovering of the Gold-Mines, (which Apologies were generally look’d upon as real Truths) yetthe King esteeming the Peace withSpainof more value than one Man’s Life, without taking notice ofGundemor’s Accusations, commanded that the Sentence formerly pass’d on him for Treason should be Executed, and accordingly in the sixtieth year of his Age he was Beheaded, discovering himself, by his Christian Behavior and Profession at his Death, to be a far other kind of Person than what the World had censur’d him to be.
Since this last Expedition of SirWalter Raleigh, we find not that there hath been any great Resort or Trade unto this Countrey, except by a fewNetherlandMerchants, who have yearly sent eight or nine Ships to the RiverOrinoquefor Tobacco.
The temperature of the Air.
As for the Air or Climate ofGuiana, it is very differing, for about theAmazoneRiver, dry Weather begins aboutAugust, and the windy and rainy Season aboutFebruary; but Westward towardsOrinoque, the Summer takes beginning inOctober, and the Winter inApril; the Days and Nights are almost of an equal length, and the difference of Heat and Cold is but little.
Burning-Feavers, Dropsie, and theJawnes, destroy many People here; which last is not unlike thePOX, and proceeds from carnal Copulation with theGuianianWomen, who are naturally subject to this Disease.
The Nature of the Inhabitants.
The Inhabitants are divided into several sorts, the chiefest whereof being theCaribbeesgo naked, covering onely their Privities with a Lappet. The Women, though yellow, are very comely; and both Men and Women paint their Bodies withNetto, which grows on little Trees in Cods: They make Holes through their Noses, Lips and Ears, and hang Glass, Bells, pieces of Copper, or any other Trifles that they get from theEnglishandNetherlanders, in them: About their Necks, Arms and Legs, they wear Strings of Beads, or Cockle-shells.
Their Houses with low Roofs, serve them onely to sleep in the Night upon Cotton Hammocks, for in the day-time they sit under high Arch’d open places, that the Wind may blow full upon them. Their Houshold-stuff consists of Earthen Pots and Dishes neatly painted. They live in Tribes or Families together in a Town, which is Govern’d by the eldest of them; and theirMilitiais Commanded by one that is able to endure most Stripes with Switches without any shew of pain. The chiefest of their Families have commonly three or four Wives, whereas others are contented with one. The Men seldom do any toilsom Work, but make their Wives do all, insomuch that as soon as a Woman is Deliver’d of a Child, she must immediately go about her usual Employment, whilest her Husband lies lozelling out his Moneth on a Hammock.
Their Language sounds not unpleasantly, but is hard to learn, because many words differ but little in the pronunciation, and yet have quite another signification.
When they march into the Field against their Enemies, then the General sends a Stick to all the Villages under his Jurisdiction, on which are cut so many Notches as there are Days appointed before he intends to set forth, which they cut out again as the Days expire, and on the last they repair to the appointed place.
A not much unlike Custom they observe in all Promises and Bargains; for they give one another as many Sticks as they desire Days to perform the same in, and so throw away every day one, till they have onely one remaining, and then they begin to think of performing their Promise or Bargain.
They know no word whereby to express any greater number than Ten; Twenty they express by laying their ten Fingers on their Toes, and all that exceeds Twenty, they compare to the Hairs of their Head, cryingOunsa awara.
Some of the paintedCanoosmade of the Trunks of Trees, will carry five or six Tuns.
Their manner of Fighting, Religion,&c.
In their Wars they use Bowes, poyson’d Arrows, short Truncheons of speckled Wood, and Shields full of carv’d Images, and Fight without any Order. They go upon no Design but in the Night, and upon certain advantages. All Women and Children which they take Prisoners, are sold for Slaves, but the Men are cruelly put to death.
There is but little of Religion that can be ascrib’d to these People, onely that some shew Reverence to the Sun and Moon, which they believe are both living Creatures; but they make no Offerings to them.
Their Funeral-Feasts for great Persons are strangely kept,viz.all the Men making themselves Drunk with the LiquorParranoro, Dance three or four days one after another, and he that drinks most, and is worst Drunk, gains the greatest Honor, whilest the Women lament and mourn for the Deceased.
Their Priests, call’dPeeaios, are in great esteem amongst them, because they pretend that they Converse with the SpiritsWattipaandYarakin, which theGuianiansexceedingly fear, apprehending themselves often beaten black and blue by them.
ThePeeaiosalso profess themselves to be Chirurgeons and Doctors, but if they cure not their Patients, they go in danger of their Lives, unless they speedily get away.
They burn their dead Bodies, together with those things the Deceased affected most in his Life-time. A Prince or Governor also hath his Slaves put to death at the time when he is burn’d, that they may serve him in the other World.
Their Bread-Corn.
TheCassavi-Root press’d, boyl’d with Pepper, dry’d and bak’d on hot Stones, serves the Natives for Bread.
Each Grain that is Sown here produces in Harvest above fifteen hundred.
Their Corn makes wholsom and well tasted Beer, call’dPassiaw, and of their stamp’dCassavithey make the LiquorParranow.
In hollow Trees, and Caves under Ground, they find abundance of Honey; and their Vines afford them excellent Grapes twice a year.
No Plant is ever seen here without either Leaf, Blossom, or Fruit, except theEuropeanApple-Tree, which never changes its nature, but blossoms and bears Fruit at the same time of the year as inEurope.
The wild HogsPokkiero, whose Navels grow on their Backs; and thePangio, not unlike our Swine, afford the Inhabitants excellent Food.
Here are also Water-hogs, of a very delicious taste; but because they are very apprehensive, and dive at the least noise, they are seldom taken.
The Woods are full of Baboons and Apes, as also the slothful BeastAi.
The Hares here, being of a brown Colour, with white Specks, and the red Rabbets, are accounted great Delicacies.
There is no Countrey inAmerica, which breeds greaterArmadillo’s thanGuiana, some of them weighing eighty Pound.
Here are also Bears, which live on nothing but Pismires; they have long hairy Tails, with which they cover their Bodies in rainy Weather; they put their Tongues a Foot deep into the Pismires Nests, and so pulls them out.
The Tygers here are either black, spotted, or red; but the black exceed the other in cruelty, yet are seldom seen near inhabited places; the spotted and red devour abundance of Cattel, but will seldom set upon a Man, especially in the day-time.
The Woods are also full of Land-Turtles, which the Inhabitants take, and keep till they have occasion to make use of their Flesh.
The Eagles that are here with their Claws, Engage with those that go about to take them.
The Catamountains make such an exceeding noise at a certain hour, both in the Night and in the Day, that it is heard two Leagues off.
TheMarmozets, a little Beast, biting the Catamountains and Apes in the Ears, forces them to leap from one Tree to another.
The black BeastQuottohath a Face like an old Woman, and hanging by the Tail, swings from one Tree to another.
TheCuscaryis a brown four-footed Creature, about the bigness of a little Dog, but hath the shape of a Lyon.