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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 Orenoque；
between that and Amazons； whose canoas we had formerly taken as he
was going from the said Barema； laden with cassavi bread to sell at
Margarita。 This Arwacan promised to bring me into the great river of
Orenoque； but indeed of that which he entered he was utterly ignorant； for
he had not seen it in twelve years before； at which time he was very young；
and of no judgment。 And if God had not sent us another help； we might
have wandered a whole year in that labyrinth of rivers； ere we had found
any way； either out or in； especially after we were past ebbing and flowing；
which was in four days。 For I know all the earth doth not yield the like
confluence of streams and branches； the one crossing the other so many
times； and all so fair and large； and so like one to another； as no man can
tell which to take： and if we went by the sun or compass； hoping thereby
to go directly one way or other； yet that way we were also carried in a
circle amongst multitudes of islands； and every island so bordered with
high trees as no man could see any further than the breadth of the river； or
length of the breach。 But this it chanced； that entering into a river （which
because it had no name； we called the River of the Red Cross； ourselves
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THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
being the first Christians that ever came therein）； the 22。 of May； as we
were rowing up the same； we espied a small canoa with three Indians；
which by the swiftness of my barge； rowing with eight oars； I overtook ere
they could cross the river。 The rest of the people on the banks； shadowed
under the thick wood； gazed on with a doubtful conceit what might befall
those three which we had taken。 But when they perceived that we offered
them no violence； neither entered their canoa with any of ours； nor took
out of the canoa any of theirs； they then began to show themselves on the
bank's side； and offered to traffic with us for such things as they had。 And
as we drew near； they all stayed； and we came with our barge to the mouth
of a little creek which came from their town into the great river。
As we abode here awhile； our Indian pilot； called Ferdinando； would
needs go ashore to their village to fetch some fruits and to drink of their
artificial wines； and also to see the place and know the lord of it against
another time； and took with him a brother of his which he had with him in
the journey。 When they came to the village of these people the lord of the
island offered to lay hands on them； purposing to have slain them both；
yielding for reason that this Indian of ours had brought a strange nation
into their territory to spoil and destroy them。 But the pilot being quick and
of a disposed body； slipt their fingers and ran into the woods； and his
brother； being the better footman of the two； recovered the creek's mouth；
where we stayed in our barge； crying out that his brother was slain。 With
that we set hands on one of them that was next us； a very old man； and
brought him into the barge； assuring him that if we had not our pilot again
we would presently cut off his head。 This old man； being resolved that he
should pay the loss of the other； cried out to those in the woods to save
Ferdinando； our pilot； but they followed him notwithstanding； and hunted
after him upon the foot with their deer…dogs； and with so main a cry that
all the woods echoed with the shout they made。 But at the last this poor
chased Indian recovered the river side and got upon a tree； and； as we were
coasting； leaped down and swam to the barge half dead with fear。 But our
good hap was that we kept the other old Indian； which we handfasted to
redeem our pilot withal； for； being natural of those rivers； we assured
ourselves that he knew the way better than any stranger could。 And； indeed；
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THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
but for this chance； I think we had never found the way either to Guiana or
back to our ships； for Ferdinando after a few days knew nothing at all； nor
which way to turn； yea； and many times the old man himself was in great
doubt which river to take。 Those people which dwell in these broken
islands and drowned lands are generally called Tivitivas。 There are of
them two sorts； the one called Ciawani； and the other Waraweete。
The great river of Orenoque or Baraquan hath nine branches which fall
out on the north side of his own main mouth。 On the south side it hath
seven other fallings into the sea； so it disemboqueth by sixteen arms in all；
between islands and broken ground； but the islands are very great； many
of them as big as the Isle of Wight； and bigger； and many less。 From the
first branch on the north to the last of the south it is at least 100 leagues； so
as the river's mouth is 300 miles wide at his entrance into the sea； which I
take to be far bigger than that of Amazons。 All those that inhabit in the
mouth of this river upon the several north branches are these Tivitivas； of
which there are two chief lords which have continual wars one with the
other。 The islands which lie on the right hand are called Pallamos； and the
land on the left； Hororotomaka； and the river by which John Douglas
returned within the land from Amana to Capuri they call Macuri。
These Tivitivas are a very goodly people and very valiant； and have
the most manly speech and most deliberate that ever I heard of what
nation soever。 In the summer they have houses on the ground； as in other
places； in the winter they dwell upon the trees； where they build very
artificial towns and villages； as it is written in the Spanish story of the
West Indies that those people do in the low lands near the gulf of Uraba。
For between May and September the river of Orenoque riseth thirty foot
upright； and then are those islands overflown twenty foot high above the
level of the ground； saving some few raised grounds in the middle of them；
and for this cause they are enforced to live in this manner。 They never eat
of anything that is set or sown； and as at home they use neither planting
nor other manurance； so when they come abroad they refuse to feed of
aught but of that which nature without labour bringeth forth。 They use the