按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
offer insult to any of their women； and yet we saw many hundreds； and
had many in our power； and of those very young and excellently
favoured； which came among us without deceit； stark naked。 Nothing got
us more love amongst them than this usage； for I suffered not any man
to take from any of the nations so much as a pina （pineapple） or a
potato root without giving them contentment； nor any man so much as to
offer to touch any of their wives or daughters； which course； so
contrary to the Spaniards； who tyrannize over them in all things； drew
them to admire her Majesty； whose commandment I told them it was； and
also wonderfully to honour our nation。 But I confess it was a very
impatient work to keep the meaner sort from spoil and stealing when we
came to their houses； which because in all I could not prevent； I
caused my Indian interpreter at every place when we departed； to know
of the loss or wrong done； and if aught were stolen or taken by
violence； either the same was restored； and the party punished in
their sight； or else was paid for to their uttermost demand。 They also
much wondered at us； after they heard that we had slain the Spaniards
at Trinidad； for they were before resolved that no nation of
Christians durst abide their presence； and they wondered more when I
had made them know of the great overthrow that her Majesty's army and
fleet had given them of late years in their own countries。
After we had taken in this supply of bread； with divers baskets of
roots； which were excellent meat； I gave one of the canoas to the
Arwacas； which belonged to the Spaniards that were escaped； and when I
had dismissed all but the captain； who by the Spaniards was christened
Martin； I sent back in the same canoa the old Ciawani； and Ferdinando；
my first pilot； and gave them both such things as they desired； with
sufficient victual to carry them back； and by them wrote a letter to
the ships； which they promised to deliver； and performed it； and then
I went on； with my new hired pilot； Martin the Arwacan。 But the next
or second day after； we came aground again with our galley； and were
like to cast her away； with all our victual and provision； and so lay
on the sand one whole night； and were far more in despair at this time
to free her than before； because we had no tide of flood to help us；
and therefore feared that all our hopes would have ended in mishaps。
But we fastened an anchor upon the land； and with main strength drew
her off； and so the fifteenth day we discovered afar off the mountains
of Guiana； to our great joy； and towards the evening had a slent
（push） of a northerly wind that blew very strong； which brought us in
sight of the great river Orenoque； out of which this river descended
wherein we were。 We descried afar off three other canoas as far as we
could discern them； after whom we hastened with our barge and
wherries； but two of them passed out of sight； and the third entered
up the great river； on the right hand to the westward； and there
stayed out of sight； thinking that we meant to take the way eastward
towards the province of Carapana； for that way the Spaniards keep； not
daring to go upwards to Guiana； the people in those parts being all
their enemies； and those in the canoas thought us to have been those
Spaniards that were fled from Trinidad； and escaped killing。 And when
we came so far down as the opening of that branch into which they
slipped； being near them with our barge and wherries； we made after
them； and ere they could land came within call； and by our interpreter
told them what we were； wherewith they came back willingly aboard us；
and of such fish and tortugas' （turtles） eggs as they had gathered
they gave us； and promised in the morning to bring the lord of that
part with them； and to do us all other services they could。 That night
we came to an anchor at the parting of the three goodly rivers （the
one was the river of Amana； by which we came from the north； and ran
athwart towards the south； the other two were of Orenoque； which
crossed from the west and ran to the sea towards the east） and landed
upon a fair sand； where we found thousands of tortugas' eggs； which
are very wholesome meat； and greatly restoring； so as our men were now
well filled and highly contented both with the fare； and nearness of
the land of Guiana； which appeared in sight。
In the morning there came down； according to promise； the lord of that
border； called Toparimaca； with some thirty or forty followers； and
brought us divers sorts of fruits； and of his wine； bread； fish； and
flesh； whom we also feasted as we could； at least we drank good
Spanish wine； whereof we had a small quantity in bottles； which above
all things they love。 I conferred with this Toparimaca of the next way
to Guiana； who conducted our galley and boats to his own port； and
carried us from thence some mile and a…half to his town； where some of
our captains caroused of his wine till they were reasonable pleasant；
for it is very strong with pepper； and the juice of divers herbs and
fruits digested and purged。 They keep it in great earthen pots of ten
or twelve gallons； very clean and sweet； and are themselves at their
meetings and feasts the greatest carousers and drunkards of the world。
When we came to his town we found two caciques； whereof one was a
stranger that had been up the river in trade； and his boats； people；
and wife encamped at the port where we anchored； and the other was of
that country； a follower of Toparimaca。 They lay each of them in a
cotton hamaca； which we call Brazil beds； and two women attending them
with six cups； and a little ladle to fill them out of an earthen
pitcher of wine； and so they drank each of them three of those cups at
a time one to the other； and in this sort they drink drunk at their
feasts and meetings。
That cacique that was a stranger had his wife staying at the port
where we anchored； and in all my life I have seldom seen a better
favoured woman。 She was of good stature； with black eyes； fat of body；
of an excellent countenance； her hair almost as long as herself； tied
up again in pretty knots； and it seemed she stood not in that awe of
her husband as the rest； for she spake and discoursed； and drank among
the gentlemen and captains； and was very pleasant； knowing her own
comeliness； and taking great pride therein。 I have seen a lady in
England so like to her； as but for the difference of colour； I would
have sworn might have been the same。
The seat of this town of Toparimaca was very pleasant； standing on a
little hill； in an excellent prospect； with goodly gardens a mile
compass round about it； and two very fair and large ponds of excellent
fish adjoining。 This town is called Arowocai； the people are of the
nation called Nepoios； and are followers of Carapana。 In that place I
saw very aged people； that we might perceive all their sinews and
veins without any flesh； and but even as a case covered only with
skin。 The lord of this place gave me an old man for pilot； who was of
great experience and travel； and knew the river most perfectly both by
day and night。 And it shall be requisite for any man that passeth it
to have such a pilot； for it is four； five； and six miles over in many
places； and twenty miles in other places； with wonderful eddies and
strong currents； many great islands； and divers shoals； and many
dangerous rocks； and besides upon any increase of wind so great a
billow； as we were sometimes in great peril of drowning in the galley；
for the small boats durst not come from the shore but when it was very
fair。
The next day we hasted thence； and having an easterly wind to help us；
we spared our arms from rowing； for after we entered Orenoque； the
river lieth for the most part east and west； even from the sea unto
Quito； in Peru。 This river is navigable with barks little less than
1000 miles； and from the place where we entered it may be sailed up in
small pinnaces to many of the best parts of Nuevo Reyno de Granada and
of Popayan。 And from no place may the cities of these parts of the
Indies be so easily taken and invaded as from hence。 All that day we
sailed up a branch of that river； having on the left hand a great
island； which they call Assapana； which may contain some five…and…
twenty miles in length； and six miles in breadth； the great body of
the river running on the other side of this island。 Beyond that middle
branch there is also another island in the river； called Iwana； which
is twice as big as the Isle of Wight； and beyond it； and between it
and the main of Guiana； runneth a third branch of Orenoque； called
Arraroopana。 All three are goodly branches； and all navigable for
great ships。 I judge the river in this place to be at least thirty
miles broad； reckoning the islands which divide the branches in it；
for afterwards I sought also both the other branches。
After we reached to the head of the island called Assapana； a little
to the westward on the right hand there opened a river which came from
the north； called Europa； and fell into the great river； and beyond it
on the same side we anchored for that night by another island； six
miles long and two miles b