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forthwith。 Martinez； being much favoured by the soldiers； had all the
means possible procured for his life； but it could not be obtained in other
sort than this； that he should be set into a canoa alone； without any victual；
only with his arms； and so turned loose into the great river。 But it pleased
God that the canoa was carried down the stream； and certain of the
Guianians met it the same evening； and； having not at any time seen any
Christian nor any man of that colour； they carried Martinez into the land to
be wondered at； and so from town to town； until he came to the great city
of Manoa； the seat and residence of Inga the emperor。 The emperor； after
he had beheld him； knew him to be a Christian； for it was not long before
that his brethren Guascar and Atabalipa were vanquished by the Spaniards
in Peru： and caused him to be lodged in his palace； and well entertained。
He lived seven months in Manoa； but was not suffered to wander into the
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country anywhere。 He was also brought thither all the way blindfold； led
by the Indians； until he came to the entrance of Manoa itself； and was
fourteen or fifteen days in the passage。 He avowed at his death that he
entered the city at noon； and then they uncovered his face； and that he
travelled all that day till night through the city； and the next day from sun
rising to sun setting； ere he came to the palace of Inga。 After that Martinez
had lived seven months in Manoa； and began to understand the language
of the country； Inga asked him whether he desired to return into his own
country； or would willingly abide with him。 But Martinez； not desirous to
stay； obtained the favour of Inga to depart； with whom he sent divers
Guianians to conduct him to the river of Orenoque； all loaden with as
much gold as they could carry； which he gave to Martinez at his departure。
But when he was arrived near the river's side； the borderers which are
called Orenoqueponi （poni is a Carib postposition meaning 〃on〃） robbed
him and his Guianians of all the treasure （the borderers being at that time
at wars； which Inga had not conquered） save only of two great bottles of
gourds； which were filled with beads of gold curiously wrought； which
those Orenoqueponi thought had been no other thing than his drink or
meat； or grain for food； with which Martinez had liberty to pass。 And so in
canoas he fell down from the river of Orenoque to Trinidad； and from
thence to Margarita； and so to St。 Juan del Puerto Rico； where； remaining
a long time for passage into Spain； he died。 In the time of his extreme
sickness； and when he was without hope of life； receiving the sacrament at
the hands of his confessor； he delivered these things； with the relation of
his travels； and also called for his calabazas or gourds of the gold beads；
which he gave to the church and friars； to be prayed for。
This Martinez was he that christened the city of Manoa by the name of
El Dorado； and； as Berreo informed me； upon this occasion； those
Guianians； and also the borderers； and all other in that tract which I have
seen； are marvellous great drunkards； in which vice I think no nation can
compare with them； and at the times of their solemn feasts； when the
emperor carouseth with his captains； tributaries； and governors； the
manner is thus。 All those that pledge him are first stripped naked and their
bodies anointed all over with a kind of white balsamum （by them called
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curca）； of which there is great plenty； and yet very dear amongst them； and
it is of all other the most precious； whereof we have had good experience。
When they are anointed all over； certain servants of the emperor； having
prepared gold made into fine powder； blow it through hollow canes upon
their naked bodies； until they be all shining from the foot to the head； and
in this sort they sit drinking by twenties and hundreds； and continue in
drunkenness sometimes six or seven days together。 The same is also
confirmed by a letter written into Spain which was intercepted； which
Master Robert Dudley told me he had seen。 Upon this sight； and for the
abundance of gold which he saw in the city； the images of gold in their
temples； the plates； armours； and shields of gold which they use in the
wars； he called it El Dorado。
After the death of Ordas and Martinez； and after Orellana； who was
employed by Gonzalo Pizarro； one Pedro de Orsua； a knight of Navarre；
attempted Guiana； taking his way into Peru； and built his brigandines upon
a river called Oia； which riseth to the southward of Quito； and is very great。
This river falleth into Amazons； by which Orsua with his companies
descended； and came out of that province which is called Motilones
（〃friars〃Indians so named from their cropped heads）； and it seemeth to
me that this empire is reserved for her Majesty and the English nation； by
reason of the hard success which all these and other Spaniards found in
attempting the same； whereof I will speak briefly； though impertinent in
some sort to my purpose。 This Pedro de Orsua had among his troops a
Biscayan called Aguirre； a man meanly born； who bare no other office
than a sergeant or alferez （al…faris； Arab。horseman； mounted officer）： but
after certain months； when the soldiers were grieved with travels and
consumed with famine； and that no entrance could be found by the
branches or body of Amazons； this Aguirre raised a mutiny； of which he
made himself the head； and so prevailed as he put Orsua to the sword and
all his followers； taking on him the whole charge and commandment； with
a purpose not only to make himself emperor of Guiana； but also of Peru
and of all that side of the West Indies。 He had of his party 700 soldiers；
and of those many promised to draw in other captains and companies； to
deliver up towns and forts in Peru； but neither finding by the said river any
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passage into Guiana； nor any possibilit