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narrow； the north part is very mountainous； the soil is very
excellent； and will bear sugar； ginger； or any other commodity that
the Indies yield。 It hath store of deer； wild porks； fruit； fish； and
fowl； it hath also for bread sufficient maize； cassavi； and of those
roots and fruits which are common everywhere in the West Indies。 It
hath divers beasts which the Indies have not； the Spaniards confessed
that they found grains of gold in some of the rivers； but they having
a purpose to enter Guiana； the magazine of all rich metals； cared not
to spend time in the search thereof any further。 This island is called
by the people thereof Cairi； and in it are divers nations。 Those about
Parico are called Jajo； those at Punta de Carao are of the Arwacas
（Arawaks） and between Carao and Curiapan they are called Salvajos。
Between Carao and Punta de Galera are the Nepojos； and those about the
Spanish city term themselves Carinepagotes （Carib…people）。 Of the rest
of the nations； and of other ports and rivers； I leave to speak here；
being impertinent to my purpose； and mean to describe them as they are
situate in the particular plot and description of the island； three
parts whereof I coasted with my barge； that I might the better
describe it。
Meeting with the ships at Puerto de los Espanoles； we found at the
landing…place a company of Spaniards who kept a guard at the descent；
and they offering a sign of peace； I sent Captain Whiddon to speak
with them； whom afterwards to my great grief I left buried in the said
island after my return from Guiana； being a man most honest and
valiant。 The Spaniards seemed to be desirous to trade with us； and to
enter into terms of peace； more for doubt of their own strength than
for aught else； and in the end； upon pledge； some of them came aboard。
The same evening there stale also aboard us in a small canoa two
Indians； the one of them being a cacique or lord of the people； called
Cantyman； who had the year before been with Captain Whiddon； and was
of his acquaintance。 By this Cantyman we understood what strength the
Spaniards had； how far it was to their city； and of Don Antonio de
Berreo； the governor； who was said to be slain in his second attempt
of Guiana； but was not。
While we remained at Puerto de los Espanoles some Spaniards came
aboard us to buy linen of the company； and such other things as they
wanted； and also to view our ships and company； all which I
entertained kindly and feasted after our manner。 By means whereof I
learned of one and another as much of the estate of Guiana as I could；
or as they knew； for those poor soldiers having been many years
without wine； a few draughts made them merry； in which mood they
vaunted of Guiana and the riches thereof； and all what they knew of
the ways and passages； myself seeming to purpose nothing less than the
entrance or discovery thereof； but bred in them an opinion that I was
bound only for the relief of those English which I had planted in
Virginia； whereof the bruit was come among them； which I had performed
in my return； if extremity of weather had not forced me from the said
coast。
I found occasions of staying in this place for two causes。 The one was
to be revenged of Berreo； who the year before； 1594； had betrayed
eight of Captain Whiddon's men； and took them while he departed from
them to seek the Edward Bonaventure； which arrived at Trinidad the day
before from the East Indies： in whose absence Berreo sent a canoa
aboard the pinnace only with Indians and dogs inviting the company to
go with them into the woods to kill a deer。 Who like wise men； in the
absence of their captain followed the Indians； but were no sooner one
arquebus shot from the shore； but Berreo's soldiers lying in ambush
had them all； notwithstanding that he had given his word to Captain
Whiddon that they should take water and wood safely。 The other cause
of my stay was； for that by discourse with the Spaniards I daily
learned more and more of Guiana； of the rivers and passages； and of
the enterprise of Berreo； by what means or fault he failed； and how he
meant to prosecute the same。
While we thus spent the time I was assured by another cacique of the
north side of the island； that Berreo had sent to Margarita and Cumana
for soldiers； meaning to have given me a cassado （blow） at parting； if
it had been possible。 For although he had given order through all the
island that no Indian should come aboard to trade with me upon pain of
hanging and quartering （having executed two of them for the same；
which I afterwards found）； yet every night there came some with most
lamentable complaints of his cruelty： how he had divided the island
and given to every soldier a part； that he made the ancient caciques；
which were lords of the country； to be their slaves； that he kept them
in chains； and dropped their naked bodies with burning bacon； and such
other torments； which I found afterwards to be true。 For in the city；
after I entered the same； there were five of the lords or little
kings； which they call caciques in the West Indies； in one chain；
almost dead of famine； and wasted with torments。 These are called in
their own language acarewana； and now of late since English； French；
and Spanish； are come among them； they call themselves captains；
because they perceive that the chiefest of every ship is called by
that name。 Those five captains in the chain were called Wannawanare；
Carroaori； Maquarima； Tarroopanama； and Aterima。 So as both to be
revenged of the former wrong； as also considering that to enter Guiana
by small boats； to depart 400 or 500 miles from my ships； and to leave
a garrison in my back interested in the same enterprise； who also
daily expected supplies out of Spain； I should have savoured very much
of the ass； and therefore taking a time of most advantage； I set upon
the Corps du garde in the evening； and having put them to the sword；
sent Captain Caulfield onwards with sixty soldiers； and myself
followed with forty more； and so took their new city； which they
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 wher