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aught but of that which nature without labour bringeth forth。 They use the
tops of palmitos for bread； and kill deer； fish； and porks for the rest of their
sustenance。 They have also many sorts of fruits that grow in the woods；
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and great variety of birds and fowls； and if to speak of them were not
tedious and vulgar； surely we saw in those passages of very rare colours
and forms not elsewhere to be found； for as much as I have either seen or
read。
Of these people those that dwell upon the branches of Orenoque；
called Capuri； and Macureo； are for the most part carpenters of canoas； for
they make the most and fairest canoas； and sell them into Guiana for gold
and into Trinidad for tabacco； in the excessive taking whereof they exceed
all nations。 And notwithstanding the moistness of the air in which they live；
the hardness of their diet； and the great labours they suffer to hunt； fish；
and fowl for their living； in all my life； either in the Indies or in Europe；
did I never behold a more goodly or better…favoured people or a more
manly。 They were wont to make war upon all nations； and especially on
the Cannibals； so as none durst without a good strength trade by those
rivers； but of late they are at peace with their neighbours； all holding the
Spaniards for a common enemy。 When their commanders die they use
great lamentation； and when they think the flesh of their bodies is putrified
and fallen from their bones； then they take up the carcase again and hang it
in the cacique's house that died； and deck his skull with feathers of all
colours； and hang all his gold plates about the bones of this arms； thighs；
and legs。 Those nations which are called Arwacas； which dwell on the
south of Orenoque； of which place and nation our Indian pilot was； are
dispersed in many other places； and do use to beat the bones of their lords
into powder； and their wives and friends drink it all in their several sorts of
drinks。
After we departed from the port of these Ciawani we passed up the
river with the flood and anchored the ebb； and in this sort we went onward。
The third day that we entered the river； our galley came on ground； and
stuck so fast as we thought that even there our discovery had ended； and
that we must have left four…score and ten of our men to have inhabited；
like rooks upon trees； with those nations。 But the next morning； after we
had cast out all her ballast； with tugging and hauling to and fro we got her
afloat and went on。 At four days' end we fell into as goodly a river as ever
I beheld； which was called the great Amana； which ran more directly
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without windings and turnings than the other。 But soon after the flood of
the sea left us； and； being enforced either by main strength to row against
a violent current； or to return as wise as we went out； we had then no shift
but to persuade the companies that it was but two or three days' work； and
therefore desired them to take pains； every gentleman and others taking
their turns to row； and to spell one the other at the hour's end。 Every day
we passed by goodly branches of rivers； some falling from the west； others
from the east； into Amana； but those I leave to the description in the chart
of discovery； where every one shall be named with his rising and descent。
When three days more were overgone； our companies began to despair；
the weather being extreme hot； the river bordered with very high trees that
kept away the air； and the current against us every day stronger than other。
But we evermore commanded our pilots to promise an end the next day；
and used it so long as we were driven to assure them from four reaches of
the river to three； and so to two； and so to the next reach。 But so long we
laboured that many days were spent； and we driven to draw ourselves to
harder allowance； our bread even at the last； and no drink at all； and our
men and ourselves so wearied and scorched； and doubtful withal whether
we should ever perform it or no； the heat increasing as we drew towards
the line； for we were now in five degrees。
The further we went on； our victual decreasing and the air breeding
great faintness； we grew weaker and weaker； when we had most need of
strength and ability。 For hourly the river ran more violently than other
against us； and the barge； wherries； and ship's boat of Captain Gifford and
Captain Caulfield had spent all their provisions； so as we were brought
into despair and discomfort； had we not persuaded all the company that it
was but only one day's work more to attain the land where we should be
relieved of all we wanted； and if we returned； that we were sure to starve
by the way； and that the world would also laugh us to scorn。 On the banks
of these rivers were divers sorts of fruits good to eat； flowers and trees of
such variety as were sufficient to make ten volumes of Herbals； we
relieved ourselves many times with the fruits of the country； and
sometimes with fowl and fish。 We saw birds of all colours； some carnation；
some crimson； orange…tawny； purple； watchet （pale blue）； and of all other
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sorts； both simple and mixed； and it was unto us a great good…passing of
the time to behold them； besides the relief we found by killing some store
of them with our fowling…pieces； without which； having little or no bread；
and less drink； but only the thick and troubled water of the river； we had
been in a very hard case。
Our old pilot of the Ciawani； whom； as I said before； we took to
redeem Ferdinando； told us； that if we would enter a branch of a river on
the right hand with our barge and wherries； and leave the galley at anchor
the while in the great river； he would bring us to a town of the Arwacas；
where we should find store of bread； hens； fish； and of the country wine；
and persuaded us； that departing from the galley at noon we might return
ere night。 I was very glad to hear this speech； and presently took my barge；
with eight musketeers； Captain Gifford's wherry； with himself and four
musketeers； and Captain Caulfield with his wherry； and as many； and so
we entered t