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battle on that side of the mountains； whom he most entirely loved）
that he remembered in his father's lifetime； when he was very old and
himself a young man； that there came down into that large valley of
Guiana a nation from so far off as the sun slept （for such were his
own words）； with so great a multitude as they could not be numbered
nor resisted； and that they wore large coats； and hats of crimson
colour； which colour he expressed by shewing a piece of red wood
wherewith my tent was supported； and that they were called Orejones
and Epuremei； that those had slain and rooted out so many of the
ancient people as there were leaves in the wood upon all the trees；
and had now made themselves lords of all； even to that mountain foot
called Curaa； saving only of two nations； the one called Iwarawaqueri
and the other Cassipagotos； and that in the last battle fought between
the Epuremei and the Iwarawaqueri his eldest son was chosen to carry
to the aid of the Iwarawaqueri a great troop of the Orenoqueponi； and
was there slain with all his people and friends； and that he had now
remaining but one son； and farther told me that those Epuremei had
built a great town called Macureguarai at the said mountain foot； at
the beginning of the great plains of Guiana； which have no end； and
that their houses have many rooms； one over the other； and that
therein the great king of the Orejones and Epuremei kept three
thousand men to defend the borders against them； and withal daily to
invade and slay them； but that of late years； since the Christians
offered to invade his territories and those frontiers； they were all
at peace； and traded one with another； saving only the Iwarawaqueri
and those other nations upon the head of the river of Caroli called
Cassipagotos； which we afterwards discovered； each one 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 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。
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 twen