太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > the discovery of guiana >

第18节

the discovery of guiana-第18节

小说: the discovery of guiana 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



opinion; an utter overthrow to the enterprise; if the same should be
hereafter by her Majesty attempted。 For then; whereas now they have
heard we were enemies to the Spaniards and were sent by her Majesty to
relieve them; they would as good cheap have joined with the Spaniards
at our return; as to have yielded unto us; when they had proved that
we came both for one errand; and that both sought but to sack and
spoil them。 But as yet our desire gold; or our purpose of invasion; is
not known to them of the empire。 And it is likely that if her Majesty
undertake the enterprise they will rather submit themselves to her
obedience than to the Spaniards; of whose cruelty both themselves and
the borderers have already tasted。 And therefore; till I had known her
Majesty's pleasure; I would rather have lost the sack of one or two
towns; although they might have been very profitable; than to have
defaced or endangered the future hope of so many millions; and the
great good and rich trade which England may be possessed of thereby。 I
am assured now that they will all die; even to the last man; against
the Spaniards in hope of our succour and return。 Whereas; otherwise;
if I had either laid hands on the borderers or ransomed the lords; as
Berreo did; or invaded the subjects of Inga; I know all had been lost
for hereafter。

After that I had resolved Topiawari; lord of Aromaia; that I could not
at this time leave with him the companies he desired; and that I was
contented to forbear the enterprise against the Epuremei till the next
year; he freely gave me his only son to take with me into England; and
hoped that though he himself had but a short time to live; yet that by
our means his son should be established after his death。 And I left
with him one Francis Sparrow; a servant of Captain Gifford; who was
desirous to tarry; and could describe a country with his pen; and a
boy of mine called Hugh Goodwin; to learn the language。 I after asked
the manner how the Epuremei wrought those plates of gold; and how they
could melt it out of the stone。 He told me that the most of the gold
which they made in plates and images was not severed from the stone;
but that on the lake of Manoa; and in a multitude of other rivers;
they gathered it in grains of perfect gold and in pieces as big as
small stones; and they put it to a part of copper; otherwise they
could not work it; and that they used a great earthen pot with holes
round about it; and when they had mingled the gold and copper together
they fastened canes to the holes; and so with the breath of men they
increased the fire till the metal ran; and then they cast it into
moulds of stone and clay; and so make those plates and images。 I have
sent your honours of two sorts such as I could by chance recover; more
to shew the manner of them than for the value。 For I did not in any
sort make my desire of gold known; because I had neither time nor
power to have a great quantity。 I gave among them many more pieces of
gold than I received; of the new money of twenty shillings with her
Majesty's picture; to wear; with promise that they would become her
servants thenceforth。

I have also sent your honours of the ore; whereof I know some is as
rich as the earth yieldeth any; of which I know there is sufficient;
if nothing else were to be hoped for。 But besides that we were not
able to tarry and search the hills; so we had neither pioneers; bars;
sledges; nor wedges of iron to break the ground; without which there
is no working in mines。 But we saw all the hills with stones of the
colour of gold and silver; and we tried them to be no marcasite; and
therefore such as the Spaniards call El madre del oro or 〃the mother
of gold;〃 which is an undoubted assurance of the general abundance;
and myself saw the outside of many mines of the spar; which I know to
be the same that all covet in this world; and of those more than I
will speak of。

Having learned what I could in Canuri and Aromaia; and received a
faithful promise of the principallest of those provinces to become
servants to her Majesty; and to resist the Spaniards if they made any
attempt in our absence; and that they would draw in the nations about
the lake of Cassipa and those of Iwarawaqueri; I then parted from old
Topiawari; and received his son for a pledge between us; and left with
him two of ours as aforesaid。 To Francis Sparrow I gave instructions
to travel to Macureguarai with such merchandises as I left with them;
thereby to learn the place; and if it were possible; to go on to the
great city of Manoa。 Which being done; we weighed anchor and coasted
the river on Guiana side; because we came upon the north side; by the
lawns of the Saima and Wikiri。

There came with us from Aromaia a cacique called Putijma; that
commanded the province of Warapana; which Putijma slew the nine
Spaniards upon Caroli before spoken of; who desired us to rest in the
port of his country; promising to bring us unto a mountain adjoining
to his town that had stones of the colour of gold; which he performed。
And after we had rested there one night I went myself in the morning
with most of the gentlemen of my company over…land towards the said
mountain; marching by a river's side called Mana; leaving on the right
hand a town called Tuteritona; standing in the province of Tarracoa;
of which Wariaaremagoto is principal。 Beyond it lieth another town
towards the south; in the valley of Amariocapana; which beareth the
name of the said valley; whose plains stretch themselves some sixty
miles in length; east and west; as fair ground and as beautiful fields
as any man hath ever seen; with divers copses scattered here and there
by the river's side; and all as full of deer as any forest or park in
England; and in every lake and river the like abundance of fish and
fowl; of which Irraparragota is lord。

From the river of Mana we crossed another river in the said beautiful
valley called Oiana; and rested ourselves by a clear lake which lay in
the middle of the said Oiana; and one of our guides kindling us fire
with two sticks; we stayed awhile to dry our shirts; which with the
heat hung very wet and heavy on our shoulders。 Afterwards we sought
the ford to pass over towards the mountain called Iconuri; where
Putijma foretold us of the mine。 In this lake we saw one of the great
fishes; as big as a wine pipe; which they call manati; being most
excellent and wholesome meat。 But after I perceived that to pass the
said river would require half…a…day's march more; I was not able
myself to endure it; and therefore I sent Captain Keymis with six shot
to go on; and gave him order not to return to the port of Putijma;
which is called Chiparepare; but to take leisure; and to march down
the said valley as far as a river called Cumaca; where I promised to
meet him again; Putijma himself promising also to be his guide。 And as
they marched; they left the towns of Emperapana and Capurepana on the
right hand; and marched from Putijma's house; down the said valley of
Amariocapana; and we returning the same day to the river's side; saw
by the way many rocks like unto gold ore; and on the left hand a round
mountain which consisted of mineral stone。

From hence we rowed down the stream; coasting the province of Parino。
As for the branches of rivers which I overpass in this discourse;
those shall be better expressed in the description; with the mountains
of Aio; Ara; and the rest; which are situate in the provinces of
Parino and Carricurrina。 When we were come as far down as the land
called Ariacoa; where Orenoque divideth itself into three great
branches; each of them being most goodly rivers; I sent away Captain
Henry Thyn; and Captain Greenvile with the galley; the nearest way;
and took with me Captain Gifford; Captain Caulfield; Edward Porter;
and Captain Eynos with mine own barge and the two wherries; and went
down that branch of Orenoque which is called Cararoopana; which
leadeth towards Emeria; the province of Carapana; and towards the east
sea; as well to find out Captain Keymis; whom I had sent overland; as
also to acquaint myself with Carapana; who is one of the greatest of
all the lords of the Orenoqueponi。 And when I came to the river of
Cumaca; to which Putijma promised to conduct Captain Keymis; I left
Captain Eynos and Master Porter in the said river to expect his
coming; and the rest of us rowed down the stream towards Emeria。

In this branch called Cararoopana were also many goodly islands; some
of six miles long; some of ten; and some of twenty。 When it grew
towards sunset; we entered a branch of a river that fell into
Orenoque; called Winicapora; where I was informed of the mountain of
crystal; to which in truth for the length of the way; and the evil
season of the year; I was not able to march; nor abide any longer upon
the journey。 We saw it afar off; and it appeared like a white church…
tower of an exceeding height。 There falleth over it a mighty river
which toucheth no part of the side of the mountain; but rusheth over
the top of it; and falleth to the ground with so terrible a noise and
clamour; as if a thousand great bells were knocked one against
another。 I think th

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的