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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 prepare her the best they
could； so as she might be brought to draw but five foot： for so much
we had on the bar of Capuri at low water。 And doubting of King's
return； I sent John Douglas again in my long barge； as well to relieve
him； as also to make a perfect search in the bottom of the bay； for it
hath been held for infallible； that whatsoever ship or boat shall fall
therein can never disemboque again； by reason of the violent current
which setteth into the said bay； as also for that the breeze and
easterly wind bloweth directly into the same。 Of which opinion I have
heard John Hampton （Captain of the Minion in the third voyage of
Hawkins）； of Plymouth； one of the greatest experience of England； and
divers other besides that have traded to Trinidad。
I sent with John Douglas an old cacique of Trinidad for a pilot； who
told us that we could not return again by the bay or gulf； but that he
knew a by…branch which ran within the land to the eastward； and he
thought by it we might fall into Capuri； and so return in four days。
John Douglas searched those rivers； and found four goodly entrances；
whereof the least was as big as the Thames at Woolwich； but in the bay
thitherward it was shoal and but six foot water； so as we were now
without hope of any ship or bark to pass over； and therefore resolved
to go on with the boats； and the bottom of the galego； in which we
thrust 60 men。 In the Lion's Whelp's boat and wherry we carried
twenty； Captain Caulfield in his wherry carried ten more； and in my
barge other ten； which made up a hundred； we had no other means but to
carry victual for a month in the same； and also to lodge therein as we
could； and to boil and dress our meat。 Captain Gifford had with him
Master Edward Porter； Captain Eynos； and eight more in his wherry；
with all their victual； weapons； and provisions。 Captain Caulfield had
with him my cousin Butshead Gorges； and eight more。 In the galley； of
gentlemen and officers myself had Captain Thyn； my cousin John
Greenvile； my nephew John Gilbert； Captain Whiddon； Captain Keymis；
Edward Hancock； Captain Clarke； Lieutenant Hughes； Thomas Upton；
Captain Facy； Jerome Ferrar； Anthony Wells； William Connock； and above
fifty more。 We could not learn of Berreo any other way to enter but in
branches so far to windward as it was impossible for us to recover；
for we had as much sea to cross over in our wherries； as between Dover
and Calice； and in a great bollow； the wind and current being both
very strong。 So as we were driven to go in those small boats directly
before the wind into the bottom of the Bay of Guanipa； and from thence
to enter the mouth of some one of those rivers which John Douglas had
last discovered； and had with us for pilot an Indian of Barema； a
river to the south of Orenoque； between that and Amazons； whose canoas
we had formerly taken as he was going from the said Barema； laden with
cassavi bread to sell at Margarita。 This Arwacan promised to bring me
into the great river of Orenoque； but indeed of that which he entered
he was utterly ignorant； for he had not seen it in twelve years
before； at which time he was very young； and of no judgment。 And if
God had not sent us another help； we might have wandered a whole year
in that labyrinth of rivers； ere we had found any way； either out or
in； especially after we were past ebbing and flowing； which was in
four days。 For I know all the earth doth not yield the like confluence
of streams and branches； the one crossing the other so many times； and
all so fair and large； and so like one to another； as no man can tell
which to take： and if we went by the sun or compass； hoping thereby to
go directly one way or other； yet that way we were also carried in a
circle amongst multitudes of islands； and every island so bordered
with high trees as no man could see any further than the breadth of
the river； or length of the breach。 But this it chanced； that entering
into a river （which because it had no name； we called the River of the
Red Cross； ourselves being the first Christians that ever came
therein）； the 22。 of May； as we were rowing up the same； we espied a
small canoa with three Indians； which by the swiftness of my barge；
rowing with eight oars； I overtook ere they could cross the river。 The
rest of the people on the banks； shadowed under the thick wood； gazed
on with a doubtful conceit what might befall those three which we had
taken。 But when they perceived that we offered them no violence；
neither entered their canoa with any of ours； nor took out of the
canoa any of theirs； they then began to show themselves on the bank's
side； and offered to traffic with us for such things as they had。 And
as we drew near； they all stayed； and we came with our barge to the
mouth of a little creek which came from their town into the great
river。
As we abode here awhile； our Indian pilot； called Ferdinando； would
needs go ashore to their village to fetch some fruits and to drink of
their artificial wines； and also to see the place and know the lord of
it against another time； and took with him a brother of his which he
had with him in the journey。 When they came to the village of these
people the lord of the island offered to lay hands on them； purposing
to have slain them both； yielding for reason that this Indian of ours
had brought a strange nation into their territory to spoil and destroy
them。 But the pilot being quick and of a disposed body； slipt their
fingers and ran into the woods； and his brother； being the better
footman of the two； recovered the creek's mouth； where we stayed in
our barge； crying out that his brother was slain。 With that we set
hands on one of them that was next us； a very old man； and brought him
into the barge； assuring him that if we had not our pilot again we
would presently cut off his head。 This old man； being resolved that he
should pay the loss of the other； cried out to those in the woods to
save Ferdinando； our pilot； but they followed him notwithstanding； and
hunted after him upon the foot with their deer…dogs； and with so main
a cry that all the woods echoed with the shout they made。 But at the
last this poor chased Indian recovered the river side and got upon a
tree； and； as we were coasting； leaped down and swam to the barge half
dead with fear。 But our good hap was that we kept the other old
Indian； which we handfasted to redeem our pilot withal； for； being
natural of those rivers； we assured ourselves that he knew the way
better than any stranger could。 And； indeed； but for this chance； I
think we had never found the way either to Guiana or back to our
ships； for Ferdinando after a few days knew nothing at all； nor which
way to turn； yea； and many times the old man himself was in great
doubt which river to take。 Those people which dwell in these broken
islands and drowned lands are generally called Tivitivas。 There are of
them two sorts； the one called Ciawani； and the other Waraweete。
The great river of Orenoque or Baraquan hath nine branches which fall
out on the north side o