按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
vehement than I。 For he yielded for a chief cause that in the wars with the
Epuremei they were spoiled of their women； and that their wives and
daughters were taken from them； so as for their own parts they desired
nothing of the gold or treasure for their labours； but only to recover
women from the Epuremei。 For he farther complained very sadly； as it had
been a matter of great consequence； that whereas they were wont to have
ten or twelve wives； they were now enforced to content themselves with
three or four； and that the lords of the Epuremei had fifty or a hundred。
And in truth they war more for women than either for gold or dominion。
For the lords of countries desire many children of their own bodies to
increase their races and kindreds； for in those consist their greatest trust
and strength。 Divers of his followers afterwards desired me to make haste
again； that they might sack the Epuremei； and I asked them； of what？ They
answered； Of their women for us； and their gold for you。 For the hope of
those many of women they more desire the war than either for gold or for
the recovery of their ancient territories。 For what between the subjects of
Inga and the Spaniards； those frontiers are grown thin of people； and also
great numbers are fled to other nations farther off for fear of the Spaniards。
After I received this answer of the old man； we fell into consideration
whether it had been of better advice to have entered Macureguarai； and to
have begun a war upon Inga at this time； yea； or no； if the time of the year
and all things else had sorted。 For mine own part； as we were not able to
march it for the rivers； neither had any such strength as was requisite； and
durst not abide the coming of the winter； or to tarry any longer from our
ships； I thought it were evil counsel to have attempted it at that time；
although the desire for gold will answer many objections。 But it would
have been； in mine opinion； an utter overthrow to the enterprise； if the
same should be hereafter by her Majesty attempted。 For then； whereas
now they have heard we were enemies to the Spaniards and were sent by
66
… Page 67…
THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
her Majesty to relieve them； they would as good cheap have joined with
the Spaniards at our return； as to have yielded unto us； when they had
proved that we came both for one errand； and that both sought but to sack
and spoil them。 But as yet our desire gold； or our purpose of invasion； is
not known to them of the empire。 And it is likely that if her Majesty
undertake the enterprise they will rather submit themselves to her
obedience than to the Spaniards； of whose cruelty both themselves and the
borderers have already tasted。 And therefore； till I had known her
Majesty's pleasure； I would rather have lost the sack of one or two towns；
although they might have been very profitable； than to have defaced or
endangered the future hope of so many millions； and the great good and
rich trade which England may be possessed of thereby。 I am assured now
that they will all die； even to the last man； against the Spaniards in hope of
our succour and return。 Whereas； otherwise； if I had either laid hands on
the borderers or ransomed the lords； as Berreo did； or invaded the subjects
of Inga； I know all had been lost for hereafter。
After that I had resolved Topiawari； lord of Aromaia； that I could not
at this time leave with him the companies he desired； and that I was
contented to forbear the enterprise against the Epuremei till the next year；
he freely gave me his only son to take with me into England； and hoped
that though he himself had but a short time to live； yet that by our means
his son should be established after his death。 And I left with him one
Francis Sparrow； a servant of Captain Gifford； who was desirous to tarry；
and could describe a country with his pen； and a boy of mine called Hugh
Goodwin； to learn the language。 I after asked the manner how the
Epuremei wrought those plates of gold； and how they could melt it out of
the stone。 He told me that the most of the gold which they made in plates
and images was not severed from the stone； but that on the lake of Manoa；
and in a multitude of other rivers； they gathered it in grains of perfect gold
and in pieces as big as small stones； and they put it to a part of copper；
otherwise they could not work it； and that they used a great earthen pot
with holes round about it； and when they had mingled the gold and copper
together they fastened canes to the holes； and so with the breath of men
they increased the fire till the metal ran； and then they cast it into moulds
67
… Page 68…
THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
of stone and clay； and so make those plates and images。 I have sent your
honours of two sorts such as I could by chance recover； more to shew the
manner of them than for the value。 For I did not in any sort make my
desire of gold known； because I had neither time nor power to have a great
quantity。 I gave among them many more pieces of gold than I received； of
the new money of twenty shillings with her Majesty's picture； to wear；
with promise that they would become her servants thenceforth。
I have also sent your honours of the ore； whereof I know some is as
rich as the earth yieldeth any； of which I know there is sufficient； if
nothing else were to be hoped for。 But besides that we were not able to
tarry and search the hills； so we had neither pioneers； bars； sledges； nor
wedges of iron to break the ground； without which there is no working in
mines。 But we saw all the hills with stones of the colour of gold and silver；
and we tried them to be no marcasite； and therefore such as the Spaniards
call El madre del oro or 〃the mother of gold；〃 which is an undoubted
assurance of the general abundance； and myself saw the outside of many
mines of the spar； which I know to be the same that all covet in this world；
and of those more than I will speak of。
Having learned what I could in Canuri and Aromaia； and received a
faithful promise of the principallest of those provinces to become servants
to her Majesty； and to resist the Spaniards if they made any attempt in our
absence； and that th