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holding the Spaniard for a common enemy。
After he had answered thus far； he desired leave to depart； saying that
he had far to go； that he was old and weak； and was every day called for
by death； which was also his own phrase。 I desired him to rest with us that
night； but I could not entreat him； but he told me that at my return from
the country above he would again come to us； and in the meantime
provide for us the best he could； of all that his country yielded。 The same
night he returned to Orocotona； his own town； so as he went that day
eight…and…twenty miles； the weather being very hot； the country being
situate between four and five degrees of the equinoctial。 This Topiawari is
held for the proudest and wisest of all the Orenoqueponi； and so he
behaved himself towards me in all his answers； at my return； as I
marvelled to find a man of that gravity and judgment and of so good
discourse； that had no help of learning nor breed。 The next morning we
also left the port； and sailed westward up to the river； to view the famous
river called Caroli； as well because it was marvellous of itself； as also for
that I understood it led to the strongest nations of all the frontiers； that
were enemies to the Epuremei； which are subjects to Inga； emperor of
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THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
Guiana and Manoa。 And that night we anchored at another island called
Caiama； of some five or six miles in length； and the next day arrived at the
mouth of Caroli。 When we were short of it as low or further down as the
port of Morequito； we heard the great roar and fall of the river。 But when
we came to enter with our barge and wherries； thinking to have gone up
some forty miles to the nations of the Cassipagotos； we were not able with
a barge of eight oars to row one stone's cast in an hour； and yet the river is
as broad as the Thames at Woolwich； and we tried both sides； and the
middle； and every part of the river。 So as we encamped upon the banks
adjoining； and sent off our Orenoquepone which came with us from
Morequito to give knowledge to the nations upon the river of our being
there； and that we desired to see the lords of Canuria； which dwelt within
the province upon that river； making them know that we were enemies to
the Spaniards； for it was on this river side that Morequito slew the friar；
and those nine Spaniards which came from Manoa； the city of Inga； and
took from them 14；000 pesos of gold。 So as the next day there came down
a lord or cacique； called Wanuretona； with many people with him； and
brought all store of provisions to entertain us； as the rest had done。 And as
I had before made my coming known to Topiawari； so did I acquaint this
cacique therewith； and how I was sent by her Majesty for the purpose
aforesaid； and gathered also what I could of him touching the estate of
Guiana。 And I found that those also of Caroli were not only enemies to the
Spaniards； but most of all to the Epuremei； which abound in gold。 And by
this Wanuretona I had knowledge that on the head of this river were three
mighty nations； which were seated on a great lake； from whence this river
descended； and were called Cassipagotos； Eparegotos； and Arawagotos
（the Purigotos and Arinagotos are still settled on the upper tributaries of
the Caroni river； no such lake as that mentioned is known to exist）； and
that all those either against the Spaniards or the Epuremei would join with
us； and that if we entered the land over the mountains of Curaa we should
satisfy ourselves with gold and all other good things。 He told us farther of
a nation called Iwarawaqueri； before spoken of； that held daily war with
the Epuremei that inhabited Macureguarai； and first civil town of Guiana；
of the subjects of Inga； the emperor。
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THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
Upon this river one Captain George； that I took with Berreo； told me
that there was a great silver mine； and that it was near the banks of the said
river。 But by this time as well Orenoque； Caroli； as all the rest of the rivers
were risen four or five feet in height； so as it was not possible by the
strength of any men； or with any boat whatsoever； to row into the river
against the stream。 I therefore sent Captain Thyn； Captain Greenvile； my
nephew John Gilbert； my cousin Butshead Gorges； Captain Clarke； and
some thirty shot more to coast the river by land； and to go to a town some
twenty miles over the valley called Amnatapoi； and they found guides
there to go farther towards the mountain foot to another great town called
Capurepana； belonging to a cacique called Haharacoa； that was a nephew
to old Topiawari； king of Aromaia； our chiefest friend； because this town
and province of Capurepana adjoined to Macureguarai； which was a
frontier town of the empire。 And the meanwhile myself with Captain
Gifford； Captain Caulfield； Edward Hancock； and some half…a…dozen shot
marched overland to view the strange overfalls of the river of Caroli；
which roared so far off； and also to see the plains adjoining； and the rest of
the province of Canuri。 I sent also Captain Whiddon； William Connock；
and some eight shot with them； to see if they could find any mineral stone
alongst the river's side。 When we were come to the tops of the first hills of
the plains adjoining to the river； we beheld that wonderful breach of
waters which ran down Caroli； and might from that mountain see the river
how it ran in three parts； above twenty miles off； and there appeared some
ten or twelve overfalls in sight； every one as high over the other as a
church tower； which fell with that fury； that the rebound of water made it
seem as if it had been all covered over with a great shower of rain； and in
some places we took it at the first for a smoke that had risen over some
great town。 For mine own part I was well persuaded from thence to have
returned； being a very ill footman； but the rest were all so desirous to go
near the said strange thunder of waters； as they drew me on by little and
little； till we came into the next valley； where we might better discern the
same。 I never saw a more beautifu