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inquisitive Jacob Whiddon was of his proceedings； and of the country of
Guiana。 Berreo was stricken into a great melancholy and sadness； and
used all the arguments he could to dissuade me； and also assured the
gentlemen of my company that it would be labour lost； and that they
should suffer many miseries if they proceeded。 And first he delivered that
I could not enter any of the rivers with any bark or pinnace； or hardly with
any ship's boat； it was so low； sandy； and full of flats； and that his
companies were daily grounded in their canoes； which drew but twelve
inches water。 He further said that none of the country would come to speak
with us； but would all fly； and if we followed them to their dwellings； they
would burn their own towns。 And besides that； the way was long； the
winter at hand； and that the rivers beginning once to swell； it was
impossible to stem the current； and that we could not in those small boats
by any means carry victuals for half the time； and that （which indeed most
discouraged my company） the kings and lords of all the borders of Guiana
had decreed that none of them should trade with any Christians for gold；
because the same would be their own overthrow； and that for the love of
gold the Christians meant to conquer and dispossess them of all together。
Many and the most of these I found to be true； but yet I resolving to
make trial of whatsoever happened； directed Captain George Gifford； my
Vice…Admiral； to take the Lion's Whelp； and Captain Caulfield his bark； to
turn to the eastward； against the mouth of a river called Capuri； whose
entrance I had before sent Captain Whiddon and John Douglas the master
to discover。 Who found some nine foot water or better upon the flood； and
five at low water： to whom I had given instructions that they should
anchor at the edge of the shoal； and upon the best of the flood to thrust
over； which shoal John Douglas buoyed and beckoned （beaconed） for
them before。 But they laboured in vain； for neither could they turn it up
altogether so far to the east； neither did the flood continue so long； but the
water fell ere they could have passed the sands。 As we after found by a
second experience： so as now we must either give over our enterprise； or
leaving our ships at adventure 400 mile behind us； must run up in our
ship's boats； one barge； and two wherries。 But being doubtful how to carry
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THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
victuals for so long a time in such baubles； or any strength of men；
especially for that Berreo assured us that his son must be by that time
come down with many soldiers； I sent away one King； master of the Lion's
Whelp； with his ship…boat； to try another branch of the river in the bottom
of the Bay of Guanipa； which was called Amana； to prove if there were
water to be found for either of the small ships to enter。 But when he came
to the mouth of Amana； he found it as the rest； but stayed not to discover it
thoroughly； because he was assured by an Indian； his guide； that the
cannibals of Guanipa would assail them with many canoas； and that they
shot poisoned arrows； so as if he hasted not back； they should all be lost。
In the meantime； fearing the worst； I caused all the carpenters we had
to cut down a galego boat； which we meant to cast off； and to fit her with
banks to row on； and in all things to prepare her the best they could； so as
she might be brought to draw but five foot： for so much we had on the bar
of Capuri at low water。 And doubting of King's return； I sent John Douglas
again in my long barge； as well to relieve him； as also to make a perfect
search in the bottom of the bay； for it hath been held for infallible； that
whatsoever ship or boat shall fall therein can never disemboque again； by
reason of the violent current which setteth into the said bay； as also for that
the breeze and easterly wind bloweth directly into the same。 Of which
opinion I have heard John Hampton （Captain of the Minion in the third
voyage of Hawkins）； of Plymouth； one of the greatest experience of
England； and divers other besides that have traded to Trinidad。
I sent with John Douglas an old cacique of Trinidad for a pilot； who
told us that we could not return again by the bay or gulf； but that he knew
a by…branch which ran within the land to the eastward； and he thought by
it we might fall into Capuri； and so return in four days。 John Douglas
searched those rivers； and found four goodly entrances； whereof the least
was as big as the Thames at Woolwich； but in the bay thitherward it was
shoal and but six foot water； so as we were now without hope of any ship
or bark to pass over； and therefore resolved to go on with the boats； and
the bottom of the galego； in which we thrust 60 men。 In the Lion's Whelp's
boat and wherry we carried twenty； Captain Caulfield in his wherry carried
ten more； and in my barge other ten； which made up a hundred； we had no
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THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
other means but to carry victual for a month in the same； and also to lodge
therein as we could； and to boil and dress our meat。 Captain Gifford had
with him Master Edward Porter； Captain Eynos； and eight more in his
wherry； with all their victual； weapons； and provisions。 Captain Caulfield
had with him my cousin Butshead Gorges； and eight more。 In the galley；
of gentlemen and officers myself had Captain Thyn； my cousin John
Greenvile； my nephew John Gilbert； Captain Whiddon； Captain Keymis；
Edward Hancock； Captain Clarke； Lieutenant Hughes； Thomas Upton；
Captain Facy； Jerome Ferrar； Anthony Wells； William Connock； and above
fifty more。 We could not learn of Berreo any other way to enter but in
branches so far to windward as it was impossible for us to recover； for we
had as much sea to cross over in our wherries； as between Dover and
Calice； and in a great bollow； the wind and current being both very strong。
So as we were driven to go in those small boats directly before the wind
into the bottom of the Bay of Guanipa； and from thence to enter the mouth
of some one of those rivers which John Douglas had last discovered； and
had with us for pilot an Indian of Barema； a river to the south of O