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musketeers； and Captain Caulfield with his wherry； and as many； and so
we entered the mouth of this river； and because we were persuaded that it
was so near； we took no victual with us at all。 When we had rowed three
hours； we marvelled we saw no sign of any dwelling； and asked the pilot
where the town was； he told us； a little further。 After three hours more； the
sun being almost set； we began to suspect that he led us that way to betray
us； for he confessed that those Spaniards which fled from Trinidad； and
also those that remained with Carapana in Emeria； were joined together in
some village upon that river。 But when it grew towards night； and we
demanded where the place was； he told us but four reaches more。 When
we had rowed four and four； we saw no sign； and our poor watermen； even
heart…broken and tired； were ready to give up the ghost； for we had now
come from the galley near forty miles。
At the last we determined to hang the pilot； and if we had well known
the way back again by night； he had surely gone。 But our own necessities
pleaded sufficiently for his safety； for it was as dark as pitch； and the river
began so to narrow itself； and the trees to hang over from side to side； as
we were driven with arming swords to cut a passage through those
branches that covered the water。 We were very desirous to find this town
hoping of a feast； because we made but a short breakfast aboard the galley
in the morning； and it was now eight o'clock at night； and our stomachs
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began to gnaw apace； but whether it was best to return or go on； we began
to doubt； suspecting treason in the pilot more and more； but the poor old
Indian ever assured us that it was but a little further； but this one turning
and that turning； and at the last about one o'clock after midnight we saw a
light； and rowing towards it we heard the dogs of the village。 When we
landed we found few people； for the lord of that place was gone with
divers canoas above 400 miles off； upon a journey towards the head of
Orenoque； to trade for gold； and to buy women of the Cannibals； who
afterwards unfortunately passed by us as we rode at an anchor in the port
of Morequito in the dark of the night； and yet came so near us as his
canoas grated against our barges； he left one of his company at the port of
Morequito； by whom we understood that he had brought thirty young
women； divers plates of gold； and had great store of fine pieces of cotton
cloth； and cotton beds。 In his house we had good store of bread； fish； hens；
and Indian drink； and so rested that night； and in the morning； after we had
traded with such of his people as came down； we returned towards our
galley； and brought with us some quantity of bread； fish； and hens。
On both sides of this river we passed the most beautiful country that
ever mine eyes beheld； and whereas all that we had seen before was
nothing but woods； prickles； bushes； and thorns； here we beheld plains of
twenty miles in length； the grass short and green； and in divers parts
groves of trees by themselves； as if they had been by all the art and labour
in the world so made of purpose； and still as we rowed； the deer came
down feeding by the water's side as if they had been used to a keeper's call。
Upon this river there were great store of fowl； and of many sorts； we saw
in it divers sorts of strange fishes； and of marvellous bigness； but for
lagartos （alligators and caymans） it exceeded； for there were thousands of
those ugly serpents； and the people call it； for the abundance of them； the
River of Lagartos； in their language。 I had a negro； a very proper young
fellow； who leaping out of the galley to swim in the mouth of this river；
was in all our sights taken and devoured with one of those lagartos。 In the
meanwhile our companies in the galley thought we had been all lost； for
we promised to return before night； and sent the Lion's Whelp's ship's boat
with Captain Whiddon to follow us up the river。 But the next day； after we
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had rowed up and down some fourscore miles； we returned； and went on
our way up the great river； and when we were even at the last cast for want
of victuals； Captain Gifford being before the galley and the rest of the
boats； seeking out some place to land upon the banks to make fire； espied
four canoas coming down the river； and with no small joy caused his men
to try the uttermost of their strengths； and after a while two of the four
gave over and ran themselves ashore； every man betaking himself to the
fastness of the woods。 The two other lesser got away； while he landed to
lay hold on these； and so turned into some by…creek； we knew not whither。
Those canoas that were taken were loaded with bread； and were bound for
Margarita in the West Indies； which those Indians； called Arwacas；
proposed to carry thither for exchange； but in the lesser there were three
Spaniards； who having heard of the defeat of their Governor in Trinidad；
and that we purposed to enter Guiana； came away in those canoas； one of
them was a cavallero； as the captain of the Arwacas after told us； another a
soldier and the third a refiner。
In the meantime； nothing on the earth could have been more welcome
to us； next unto gold； than the great store of very excellent bread which we
found in these canoas； for now our men cried； 〃Let us go on； we care not
how far。〃 After that Captain Gifford had brought the two canoas to the
galley； I took my barge and went to the bank's side with a dozen shot；
where the canoas first ran themselves ashore； and landed there； sending
out Captain Gifford and Captain Thyn on one hand and Captain Caulfield
on the other； to follow those that were fled into the woods。 And as I was
creeping through the bushes； I saw an Indian basket hidden； which was the
refiner's basket； for I found in it his quicksilver； saltpetre； and divers
things for the trial of metals； and also the dust of such ore as he had
refined； but in those canoas which escaped there was a good quantity of
ore and gold。 I then landed more men； and offered five hundred pound to
what soldier soever could take one of those three