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buried with them。 For I was informed of one of the caciques of the
valley of Amariocapana which had buried with him a little before our
arrival a chair of gold most curiously wrought； which was made either
in Macureguarai adjoining or in Manoa。 But if we should have grieved
them in their religion at the first； before they had been taught
better； and have digged up their graves； we had lost them all。 And
therefore I held my first resolution； that her Majesty should either
accept or refuse the enterprise ere anything should be done that might
in any sort hinder the same。 And if Peru had so many heaps of gold；
whereof those Ingas were princes； and that they delighted so much
therein； no doubt but this which now liveth and reigneth in Manoa hath
the same humour； and； I am assured； hath more abundance of gold within
his territory than all Peru and the West Indies。
For the rest； which myself have seen； I will promise these things that
follow； which I know to be true。 Those that are desirous to discover
and to see many nations may be satisfied within this river； which
bringeth forth so many arms and branches leading to several countries
and provinces； above 2；000 miles east and west and 800 miles south and
north； and of these the most either rich in gold or in other
merchandises。 The common soldier shall here fight for gold； and pay
himself； instead of pence； with plates of half…a…foot broad； whereas
he breaketh his bones in other wars for provant and penury。 Those
commanders and chieftains that shoot at honour and abundance shall
find there more rich and beautiful cities； more temples adorned with
golden images； more sepulchres filled with treasure； than either
Cortes found in Mexico or Pizarro in Peru。 And the shining glory of
this conquest will eclipse all those so far…extended beams of the
Spanish nation。 There is no country which yieldeth more pleasure to
the inhabitants； either for those common delights of hunting； hawking；
fishing； fowling； and the rest； than Guiana doth； it hath so many
plains； clear rivers； and abundance of pheasants； partridges； quails；
rails； cranes； herons； and all other fowl； deer of all sorts； porks；
hares； lions； tigers； leopards； and divers other sorts of beasts；
either for chase or food。 It hath a kind of beast called cama or anta
（tapir）； as big as an English beef； and in great plenty。 To speak of
the several sorts of every kind I fear would be troublesome to the
reader； and therefore I will omit them； and conclude that both for
health； good air； pleasure； and riches； I am resolved it cannot be
equalled by any region either in the east or west。 Moreover the
country is so healthful； as of an hundred persons and more； which lay
without shift most sluttishly； and were every day almost melted with
heat in rowing and marching； and suddenly wet again with great
showers； and did eat of all sorts of corrupt fruits； and made meals of
fresh fish without seasoning； of tortugas； of lagartos or crocodiles；
and of all sorts good and bad； without either order or measure； and
besides lodged in the open air every night； we lost not any one； nor
had one ill…disposed to my knowledge； nor found any calentura or other
of those pestilent diseases which dwell in all hot regions； and so
near the equinoctial line。
Where there is store of gold it is in effect needless to remember
other commodities for trade。 But it hath； towards the south part of
the river； great quantities of brazil…wood； and divers berries that
dye a most perfect crimson and carnation； and for painting； all
France； Italy； or the East Indies yield none such。 For the more the
skin is washed； the fairer the colour appeareth； and with which even
those brown and tawny women spot themselves and colour their cheeks。
All places yield abundance of cotton； of silk； of balsamum； and of
those kinds most excellent and never known in Europe； of all sorts of
gums； of Indian pepper； and what else the countries may afford within
the land we know not； neither had we time to abide the trial and
search。 The soil besides is so excellent and so full of rivers； as it
will carry sugar； ginger； and all those other commodities which the
West Indies have。
The navigation is short； for it may be sailed with an ordinary wind in
six weeks； and in the like time back again； and by the way neither
lee…shore； enemies' coast； rocks； nor sands。 All which in the voyages
to the West Indies and all other places we are subject unto； as the
channel of Bahama； coming from the West Indies； cannot well be passed
in the winter； and when it is at the best； it is a perilous and a
fearful place； the rest of the Indies for calms and diseases very
troublesome； and the sea about the Bermudas a hellish sea for thunder；
lightning； and storms。
This very year （1595） there were seventeen sail of Spanish ships lost
in the channel of Bahama； and the great Philip； like to have sunk at
the Bermudas； was put back to St。 Juan de Puerto Rico； and so it
falleth out in that navigation every year for the most part。 Which in
this voyage are not to be feared； for the time of year to leave
England is best in July； and the summer in Guiana is in October；
November； December； January； February； and March； and then the ships
may depart thence in April； and so return again into England in June。
So as they shall never be subject to winter weather； either coming；
going； or staying there： which； for my part； I take to be one of the
greatest comforts and encouragements that can be thought on； having；
as I have done； tasted in this voyage by the West Indies so many
calms； so much heat； such outrageous gusts； such weather； and contrary
winds。
To conclude； Guiana is a country that hath yet her maidenhead； never
sacked； turned； nor wrought； the face of the earth hath not been torn；
nor the virtue and salt of the soil spent by manurance。 The graves
have not been opened for gold； the mines not broken with sledges； nor
their images pulled down out of their temples。 It hath never been
entered by any army of strength； and never conquered or possessed by
any Christian prince。 It is besides so defensible； that if two forts
be builded in one of the provinces which I have seen； the flood
setteth in so near the bank； where the channel also lieth； that no
ship can pass up but within a pike's length of the artillery； first of
the one； and afterwards of the other。 Which two forts will be a
sufficient guard both to the empire of Inga； and to an hundred other
several kingdoms； lying within the said river； even to the city of
Quito in Peru。
There is therefore great difference between the easiness of the
conquest of Guiana； and the defence of it being conquered； and the
West or East Indies。 Guiana hath but one entrance by the sea； if it
hath that； for any vessels of burden。 So as whosoever shall first
possess it； it shall be found unaccessible for any enemy； except he
come in wherries； barges； or canoas； or else in flat…bottomed boats；
and if he do offer to enter it in that manner； the woods are so thick
200 miles together upon the rivers of such entrance； as a mouse cannot
sit in a boat unhit from the bank。 By land it is more impossible to