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him their guide from place to place between his country and Emeria；
the province of Carapana aforesaid； and he was at last redeemed for an
hundred plates of gold； and divers stones called piedras hijadas； or
spleen…stones。 Now Berreo for executing of Morequito； and other
cruelties； spoils； and slaughters done in Aromaia； hath lost the love
of the Orenoqueponi； and of all the borderers； and dare not send any
of his soldiers any further into the land than to Carapana； which he
called the port of Guiana； but from thence by the help of Carapana he
had trade further into the country； and always appointed ten Spaniards
to reside in Carapana's town （the Spanish settlement of Santo Tome de
la Guyana； founded by Berrio in 1591 or 1592； but represented by
Raleigh as an Indian pueblo）； by whose favour； and by being conducted
by his people； those ten searched the country thereabouts； as well for
mines as for other trades and commodities。
They also have gotten a nephew of Morequito； whom they have christened
and named Don Juan； of whom they have great hope； endeavouring by all
means to establish him in the said province。 Among many other trades；
those Spaniards used canoas to pass to the rivers of Barema； Pawroma；
and Dissequebe （Essequibo）； which are on the south side of the mouth
of Orenoque； and there buy women and children from the cannibals；
which are of that barbarous nature； as they will for three or four
hatchets sell the sons and daughters of their own brethren and
sisters； and for somewhat more even their own daughters。 Hereof the
Spaniards make great profit； for buying a maid of twelve or thirteen
years for three or four hatchets； they sell them again at Margarita in
the West Indies for fifty and an hundred pesos； which is so many
crowns。
The master of my ship； John Douglas； took one of the canoas which came
laden from thence with people to be sold； and the most of them
escaped； yet of those he brought； there was one as well favoured and
as well shaped as ever I saw any in England； and afterwards I saw many
of them； which but for their tawny colour may be compared to any in
Europe。 They also trade in those rivers for bread of cassavi； of which
they buy an hundred pound weight for a knife； and sell it at Margarita
for ten pesos。 They also recover great store of cotton； Brazil wood；
and those beds which they call hamacas or Brazil beds； wherein in hot
countries all the Spaniards use to lie commonly； and in no other；
neither did we ourselves while we were there。 By means of which
trades； for ransom of divers of the Guianians； and for exchange of
hatchets and knives； Berreo recovered some store of gold plates；
eagles of gold； and images of men and divers birds； and dispatched his
camp…master for Spain； with all that he had gathered； therewith to
levy soldiers； and by the show thereof to draw others to the love of
the enterprise。 And having sent divers images as well of men as
beasts； birds； and fishes； so curiously wrought in gold； he doubted
not but to persuade the king to yield to him some further help；
especially for that this land hath never been sacked； the mines never
wrought； and in the Indies their works were well spent； and the gold
drawn out with great labour and charge。 He also despatched messengers
to his son in Nuevo Reyno to levy all the forces he could； and to come
down the river Orenoque to Emeria； the province of Carapana； to meet
him； he had also sent to Santiago de Leon on the coast of the Caracas；
to buy horses and mules。
After I had thus learned of his proceedings past and purposed； I told
him that I had resolved to see Guiana； and that it was the end of my
journey； and the cause of my coming to Trinidad； as it was indeed； and
for that purpose I sent Jacob Whiddon the year before to get
intelligence： with whom Berreo himself had speech at that time； and
remembered how inquisitive Jacob Whiddon was of his proceedings； and
of the country of Guiana。 Berreo was stricken into a great melancholy
and sadness； and used all the arguments he could to dissuade me； and
also assured the gentlemen of my company that it would be labour lost；
and that they should suffer many miseries if they proceeded。 And first
he delivered that I could not enter any of the rivers with any bark or
pinnace； or hardly with any ship's boat； it was so low； sandy； and
full of flats； and that his companies were daily grounded in their
canoes； which drew but twelve inches water。 He further said that none
of the country would come to speak with us； but would all fly； and if
we followed them to their dwellings； they would burn their own towns。
And besides that； the way was long； the winter at hand； and that the
rivers beginning once to swell； it was impossible to stem the current；
and that we could not in those small boats by any means carry victuals
for half the time； and that （which indeed most discouraged my company）
the kings and lords of all the borders of Guiana had decreed that none
of them should trade with any Christians for gold； because the same
would be their own overthrow； and that for the love of gold the
Christians meant to conquer and dispossess them of all together。
Many and the most of these I found to be true； but yet I resolving to
make trial of whatsoever happened； directed Captain George Gifford； my
Vice…Admiral； to take the Lion's Whelp； and Captain Caulfield his
bark； to turn to the eastward； against the mouth of a river called
Capuri； whose entrance I had before sent Captain Whiddon and John
Douglas the master to discover。 Who found some nine foot water or
better upon the flood； and five at low water： to whom I had given
instructions that they should anchor at the edge of the shoal； and
upon the best of the flood to thrust over； which shoal John Douglas
buoyed and beckoned （beaconed） for them before。 But they laboured in
vain； for neither could they turn it up altogether so far to the east；
neither did the flood continue so long； but the water fell ere they
could have passed the sands。 As we after found by a second experience：
so as now we must either give over our enterprise； or leaving our
ships at adventure 400 mile behind us； must run up in our ship's
boats； one barge； and two wherries。 But being doubtful how to carry
victuals for so long a time in such baubles； or any strength of men；
especially for that Berreo assured us that his son must be by that
time come down with many soldiers； I sent away one King； master of the
Lion's Whelp； with his ship…boat； to try another branch of the river
in the bottom of the Bay of Guanipa； which was called Amana； to prove
if there were water to be found for either of the small ships to
enter。 But when he came to the mouth of Amana； he found it as the
rest； but stayed not to discover it thoroughly； because he was assured
by an Indian； his guide； that the cannibals of Guanipa would assail
them with many canoas； and that they shot poisoned arrows； so as if he
hasted not back； they should all be lost。
In the meantime； fearing the worst； I caused all the carpenters we had
to cut down a galego boat； which we meant to cast off； and to fit her
with banks to row on； and in all things to