the discovery of guiana-第4章

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called　St。　Joseph；　by　break　of　day。　They　abode　not　any　fight　after　a
few　shot；　and　all　being　dismissed；　but　only　Berreo　and　his　companion
（the　Portuguese　captain　Alvaro　Jorge）；　I　brought　them　with　me　aboard；
and　at　the　instance　of　the　Indians　I　set　their　new　city　of　St。　Joseph
on　fire。　The　same　day　arrived　Captain　George　Gifford　with　your
lordship's　ship；　and　Captain　Keymis；　whom　I　lost　on　the　coast　of
Spain；　with　the　galego；　and　in　them　divers　gentlemen　and　others；　which
to　our　little　army　was　a　great　comfort　and　supply。

We　then　hasted　away　towards　our　purposed　discovery；　and　first　I　called
all　the　captains　of　the　island　together　that　were　enemies　to　the
Spaniards；　for　there　were　some　which　Berreo　had　brought　out　of　other
countries；　and　planted　there　to　eat　out　and　waste　those　that　were
natural　of　the　place。　And　by　my　Indian　interpreter；　which　I　carried
out　of　England；　I　made　them　understand　that　I　was　the　servant　of　a
queen　who　was　the　great　cacique　of　the　north；　and　a　virgin；　and　had
more　caciqui　under　her　than　there　were　trees　in　that　island；　that　she
was　an　enemy　to　the　Castellani　in　respect　of　their　tyranny　and
oppression；　and　that　she　delivered　all　such　nations　about　her；　as　were
by　them　oppressed；　and　having　freed　all　the　coast　of　the　northern
world　from　their　servitude；　had　sent　me　to　free　them　also；　and　withal
to　defend　the　country　of　Guiana　from　their　invasion　and　conquest。　I
shewed　them　her　Majesty's　picture；　which　they　so　admired　and　honoured；
as　it　had　been　easy　to　have　brought　them　idolatrous　thereof。　The　like
and　a　more　large　discourse　I　made　to　the　rest　of　the　nations；　both　in
my　passing　to　Guiana　and　to　those　of　the　borders；　so　as　in　that　part
of　the　world　her　Majesty　is　very　famous　and　admirable；　whom　they　now
call　EZRABETA　CASSIPUNA　AQUEREWANA；　which　is　as　much　as　'Elizabeth；
the　Great　Princess；　or　Greatest　Commander。'　This　done；　we　left　Puerto
de　los　Espanoles；　and　returned　to　Curiapan；　and　having　Berreo　my
prisoner；　I　gathered　from　him　as　much　of　Guiana　as　he　knew。　This
Berreo　is　a　gentleman　well　descended；　and　had　long　served　the　Spanish
king　in　Milan；　Naples；　the　Low　Countries；　and　elsewhere；　very　valiant
and　liberal；　and　a　gentleman　of　great　assuredness；　and　of　a　great
heart。　I　used　him　according　to　his　estate　and　worth　in　all　things　I
could；　according　to　the　small　means　I　had。

I　sent　Captain　Whiddon　the　year　before　to　get　what　knowledge　he　could
of　Guiana：　and　the　end　of　my　journey　at　this　time　was　to　discover　and
enter　the　same。　But　my　intelligence　was　far　from　truth；　for　the
country　is　situate　about　600　English　miles　further　from　the　sea　than　I
was　made　believe　it　had　been。　Which　afterwards　understanding　to　be
true　by　Berreo；　I　kept　it　from　the　knowledge　of　my　company；　who　else
would　never　have　been　brought　to　attempt　the　same。　Of　which　600　miles
I　passed　400；　leaving　my　ships　so　far　from　me　at　anchor　in　the　sea；
which　was　more　of　desire　to　perform　that　discovery　than　of　reason；
especially　having　such　poor　and　weak　vessels　to　transport　ourselves
in。　For　in　the　bottom　of　an　old　galego　which　I　caused　to　be　fashioned
like　a　galley；　and　in　one　barge；　two　wherries；　and　a　ship…boat　of　the
Lion's　Whelp；　we　carried　100　persons　and　their　victuals　for　a　month　in
the　same；　being　all　driven　to　lie　in　the　rain　and　weather　in　the　open
air；　in　the　burning　sun；　and　upon　the　hard　boards；　and　to　dress　our
meat；　and　to　carry　all　manner　of　furniture　in　them。　Wherewith　they
were　so　pestered　and　unsavoury；　that　what　with　victuals　being　most
fish；　with　the　wet　clothes　of　so　many　men　thrust　together；　and　the
heat　of　the　sun；　I　will　undertake　there　was　never　any　prison　in
England　that　could　be　found　more　unsavoury　and　loathsome；　especially
to　myself；　who　had　for　many　years　before　been　dieted　and　cared　for　in
a　sort　far　more　differing。

If　Captain　Preston　had　not　been　persuaded　that　he　should　have　come　too
late　to　Trinidad　to　have　found　us　there　（for　the　month　was　expired
which　I　promised　to　tarry　for　him　there　ere　he　could　recover　the　coast
of　Spain）　but　that　it　had　pleased　God　he　might　have　joined　with　us；
and　that　we　had　entered　the　country　but　some　ten　days　sooner　ere　the
rivers　were　overflown；　we　had　adventured　either　to　have　gone　to　the
great　city　of　Manoa；　or　at　least　taken　so　many　of　the　other　cities　and
towns　nearer　at　hand；　as　would　have　made　a　royal　return。　But　it
pleased　not　God　so　much　to　favour　me　at　this　time。　If　it　shall　be　my
lot　to　prosecute　the　same；　I　shall　willingly　spend　my　life　therein。
And　if　any　else　shall　be　enabled　thereunto；　and　conquer　the　same；　I
assure　him　thus　much；　he　shall　perform　more　than　ever　was　done　in
Mexico　by　Cortes；　or　in　Peru　by　Pizarro；　whereof　the　one　conquered　the
empire　of　Mutezuma；　the　other　of　Guascar　and　Atabalipa。　And　whatsoever
prince　shall　possess　it；　that　prince　shall　be　lord　of　more　gold；　and
of　a　more　beautiful　empire；　and　of　more　cities　and　people；　than　either
the　king　of　Spain　or　the　Great　Turk。

But　because　there　may　arise　many　doubts；　and　how　this　empire　of　Guiana
is　become　so　populous；　and　adorned　with　so　many　great　cities；　towns；
temples；　and　treasures；　I　thought　good　to　make　it　known；　that　the
emperor　now　reigning　is　descended　from　those　magnificent　princes　of
Peru；　of　whose　large　territories；　of　whose　policies；　conquests；
edifices；　and　riches；　Pedro　de　Cieza；　Francisco　Lopez；　and　others　have
written　large　discourses。　For　when　Francisco　Pizarro；　Diego　Almagro
and　others　conquered　the　said　empire　of　Peru；　and　had　put　to　death
Atabalipa；　son　to　Guayna　Capac；　which　Atabalipa　had　formerly　caused
his　eldest　brother　Guascar　to　be　slain；　one　of　the　younger　sons　of
Guayna　Capac　fled　out　of　Peru；　and　took　with　him　many　thousands　of
those　soldiers　of　the　empire　called　orejones　（〃having　large　ears；〃　the
name　given　by　the　Spaniards　to　the　Peruvian　warriors；　who　wore　ear…
pendants）；　and　with　those　and　many　others　which　followed　him；　he
vanquished　all　that　tract　and　valley　of　America　which　is　situate
between　the　great　river　of　Amazons　and　Baraquan；　otherwise　called
Orenoque　and　Maranon　（Baraquan　is　the　alternative　name　to　Orenoque；
Maranon　to　Amazons）。

The　empire　of　Guiana　is　directly　east　from　Peru　towards　the　sea；　and
lieth　under　the　equinoctial　line；　and　it　hath　more　abundance　of　gold
than　any　part　of　Peru；　and　as　many　or　more　great　cities　than　ever　Peru
had　when　it　flourished　most。　It　is　governed　by　the　same　laws；　and　the
emperor　and　people　observe　the　same　religion；　and　the　same　form　and
policies　in　government　as　were　used　in　Peru；　not　differing　in　any
part。　And　I　have　been　assured　by　such　of　the　Spaniards　as　have　seen
Manoa；　the　imperial　city　of　Guiana；　which　the　Spaniards　call　El
Dorado；　that　for　the　greatness；　for　the　riches；　and　for　the　excellent
seat；　it　far　exceedeth　any　of　the　world；　at　least　of　so　much　of　the
world　as　is　known　to　the　Spanish　nation。　It　is　founded　upon　a　lake　of
salt　water　of　200　leagues　long；　like　unto　Mare　Caspium。　And　if　we
compare　it　to　that　of　Peru；　and　but　read　the　report　of　Francisco　Lopez
and　others；　it　will　seem　more　than　credible；　and　because　we　may　judge
of　the　one　by　the　other；　I　thought　good　to　insert　part　of　the　120。
chapter　of　Lopez　in　his　General　History　of　the　Indies；　wherein　he
describeth　the　court　and　magnificence　of　Guayna　Capac；　ancestor　to　the
emperor　of　Guiana；　whose　very　words　are　these：

〃Todo　el　servicio　de　su　casa；　mesa；　y　cocina　era　de　oro　y　de　plata；　y
cuando　menos　de　plata　y　cobre；　por　mas　recio。　Tenia　en　su　recamara
estatuas　huecas　de　oro；　que　parescian　gigantes；　y　las　figuras　al
propio　y　tamano　de　cuantos　animales；　aves；　arboles；　y　yerbas　produce
la　tierra；　y　de　cuantos　peces　cria　la　mar　y　agua　de　sus　reynos。　Tenia
asimesmo　sogas；　costales；　cestas；　y　troxes　de　oro　y　plata；　rimeros　de
palos　de　oro；　que　pareciesen　lena　rajada　para　quemar。　En　fin　no　habia
cosa　en　su　tierra；　que　no　la　tuviese　de　oro　contrahecha；　y　aun　dizen；
que　tenian　los　Ingas　un　verjel　en　una　isla　cerca　de　la　Puna；　donde　se
iban　a　holgar；　cuando　querian　mar；　que　tenia　la　hortaliza；　las　flores；
y　arboles　de　oro　y　plata；　invencion　y　grandeza　hasta　entonces　nunca
vista。　Allende　de　todo　esto；　tenia　infinitisima　cantidad　de　plata　y
oro　por　labrar　en　el　Cuzco；　que　se　perdio　por　la　muerte　de　Guascar；　ca
los　Indios　lo　escondieron；　viendo　que　los　Espanoles　se　lo　tomaban；　y
enviaban　a　Espana。〃

That　is；　〃All　the　vessels　of　his　house；　table；　and　kitchen；　were　of
gold　and　silver；　and　the　meanest　of　silver　and　copper　for　strength　and
hardness　of　metal。　He　had　in　his　wardrobe　hollow　statues　of　gold　which
seemed　giants；　and　the　figures　in　proportion　and　bigness　of　all　the
beasts；　birds；　trees；　and　herbs；　that　the　earth　bringeth　forth；　and　of
all　the　fishes　that　the　sea　or　waters　of　his　kingdom　breedeth。　He　had
also　ropes；　budgets；　chests；　and　troughs　of　gold　and　silver；　heaps　of
billets　of　gold；　that　seemed　wood　marked　out　（split　into　logs）　to
burn。　Finally；　there　was　nothing　in　his　country　whereof　he　had　not　the
counterfeit　in　gold。　Yea；　and　they　say；　the　Ingas　had　a　garden　of
pleasure　in　an　island　near　Puna；　where　they　went　to　recreate
themselves；　when　they　would　take　the　air　of　the　sea；　which　had　all
kinds　of　garden…herbs；　flowers；　and　trees　of　gold　and　silver；　an
invention　and　magnificence　till　then　never　seen。　Besides　all　this；　he
had　an　infinite　quantity　of　silver　and　gold　unwrought　in　Cuzco；　which
was　lost　by　the　death　of　Guascar；　for　the　Indians　hid　it；　seeing　that
the　Spaniards　took　it；　and　sent　it　into　Spain。〃

And　in　the　117。　chapter；　Francisco　Pizarro　caused　the　gold　and　silver
of　Atabalipa　to　be　weighed　after　he　had　taken　it；　which　Lopez　setteth
down　in　these　words　following：〃Hallaron　cincuenta　y　dos　mil　marcos
de　buena　plata；　y　un　millon　y　trecientos　y　veinte　y　seis　mil　y
quinientos　pesos　de　oro。〃　Which　is；　〃They　found　52；000　marks　of　good
silver；　and　1；326；500　pesos　of　gold。〃　Now；　although　these　reports　may
seem　strange；　yet　if　we　consider　the　many　millions　which　are　daily
brought　out　of　Peru　into　Spain；　we　may　easily　believe　the　same。　For　we
find　that　by　the　abundant　treasure　of　that　country　the　Spanish　king
vexes　all　the　princes　of　Europe；　and　is　become；　in　a　few　years；　from　a
poor　king　of　Castile；　the　greatest　monarch　of　this　part　of　the　world；
and　likely　every　day　to　increase　if　other　princes　forslow　the　good
occasions　offered；　and　suffer　him　to　add　this　empire　to　the　rest；
which　by　far　exceedeth　all　the　rest。　If　his　gold　now　endanger　us；　he
will　then　be　unresistible。　Such　of　the　Spaniards　as　afterwards
endeavoured　the　conquest　thereof；　whereof　there　have　been　many；　as
shall　be　declared　hereafter；　thought　that　this　Inga；　of　whom　this
emperor　now　living　is　descended；　took　his　way　by　the　river　of　Amazons；
by　that　branch　which　is　called　Papamene　（The　Papamene　is　a　tributary
not　of　the　Amazon　river　but　of　the　Meta；　one　of　the　principal
tributaries　of　the　Orinoco）。　For　by　that　way　followed　Orellana；　by　the
commandment　of　Gonzalo　Pizarro；　in　the　year　1542；　whose　name　the　river
also　beareth　this　day。　Which　is　also　by　others　called　Maranon；
although　Andrew　Thevet　doth　affirm　that　between　Maranon　and　Amazons
there　are　120　leagues；　but　sure　it　is　that　those　rivers　have　one　head
and　beginning；　and　the