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in。 For in the bottom of an old galego which I caused to be fashioned
like a galley; and in one barge; two wherries; and a ship…boat of the
Lion's Whelp; we carried 100 persons and their victuals for a month in
the same; being all driven to lie in the rain and weather in the open
air; in the burning sun; and upon the hard boards; and to dress our
meat; and to carry all manner of furniture in them。 Wherewith they
were so pestered and unsavoury; that what with victuals being most
fish; with the wet clothes of so many men thrust together; and the
heat of the sun; I will undertake there was never any prison in
England that could be found more unsavoury and loathsome; especially
to myself; who had for many years before been dieted and cared for in
a sort far more differing。

If Captain Preston had not been persuaded that he should have come too
late to Trinidad to have found us there (for the month was expired
which I promised to tarry for him there ere he could recover the coast
of Spain) but that it had pleased God he might have joined with us;
and that we had entered the country but some ten days sooner ere the
rivers were overflown; we had adventured either to have gone to the
great city of Manoa; or at least taken so many of the other cities and
towns nearer at hand; as would have made a royal return。 But it
pleased not God so much to favour me at this time。 If it shall be my
lot to prosecute the same; I shall willingly spend my life therein。
And if any else shall be enabled thereunto; and conquer the same; I
assure him thus much; he shall perform more than ever was done in
Mexico by Cortes; or in Peru by Pizarro; whereof the one conquered the
empire of Mutezuma; the other of Guascar and Atabalipa。 And whatsoever
prince shall possess it; that prince shall be lord of more gold; and
of a more beautiful empire; and of more cities and people; than either
the king of Spain or the Great Turk。

But because there may arise many doubts; and how this empire of Guiana
is become so populous; and adorned with so many great cities; towns;
temples; and treasures; I thought good to make it known; that the
emperor now reigning is descended from those magnificent princes of
Peru; of whose large territories; of whose policies; conquests;
edifices; and riches; Pedro de Cieza; Francisco Lopez; and others have
written large discourses。 For when Francisco Pizarro; Diego Almagro
and others conquered the said empire of Peru; and had put to death
Atabalipa; son to Guayna Capac; which Atabalipa had formerly caused
his eldest brother Guascar to be slain; one of the younger sons of
Guayna Capac fled out of Peru; and took with him many thousands of
those soldiers of the empire called orejones (〃having large ears;〃 the
name given by the Spaniards to the Peruvian warriors; who wore ear…
pendants); and with those and many others which followed him; he
vanquished all that tract and valley of America which is situate
between the great river of Amazons and Baraquan; otherwise called
Orenoque and Maranon (Baraquan is the alternative name to Orenoque;
Maranon to Amazons)。

The empire of Guiana is directly east from Peru towards the sea; and
lieth under the equinoctial line; and it hath more abundance of gold
than any part of Peru; and as many or more great cities than ever Peru
had when it flourished most。 It is governed by the same laws; and the
emperor and people observe the same religion; and the same form and
policies in government as were used in Peru; not differing in any
part。 And I have been assured by such of the Spaniards as have seen
Manoa; the imperial city of Guiana; which the Spaniards call El
Dorado; that for the greatness; for the riches; and for the excellent
seat; it far exceedeth any of the world; at least of so much of the
world as is known to the Spanish nation。 It is founded upon a lake of
salt water of 200 leagues long; like unto Mare Caspium。 And if we
compare it to that of Peru; and but read the report of Francisco Lopez
and others; it will seem more than credible; and because we may judge
of the one by the other; I thought good to insert part of the 120。
chapter of Lopez in his General History of the Indies; wherein he
describeth the court and magnificence of Guayna Capac; ancestor to the
emperor of Guiana; whose very words are these:

〃Todo el servicio de su casa; mesa; y cocina era de oro y de plata; y
cuando menos de plata y cobre; por mas recio。 Tenia en su recamara
estatuas huecas de oro; que parescian gigantes; y las figuras al
propio y tamano de cuantos animales; aves; arboles; y yerbas produce
la tierra; y de cuantos peces cria la mar y agua de sus reynos。 Tenia
asimesmo sogas; costales; cestas; y troxes de oro y plata; rimeros de
palos de oro; que pareciesen lena rajada para quemar。 En fin no habia
cosa en su tierra; que no la tuviese de oro contrahecha; y aun dizen;
que tenian los Ingas un verjel en una isla cerca de la Puna; donde se
iban a holgar; cuando querian mar; que tenia la hortaliza; las flores;
y arboles de oro y plata; invencion y grandeza hasta entonces nunca
vista。 Allende de todo esto; tenia infinitisima cantidad de plata y
oro por labrar en el Cuzco; que se perdio por la muerte de Guascar; ca
los Indios lo escondieron; viendo que los Espanoles se lo tomaban; y
enviaban a Espana。〃

That is; 〃All the vessels of his house; table; and kitchen; were of
gold and silver; and the meanest of silver and copper for strength and
hardness of metal。 He had in his wardrobe hollow statues of gold which
seemed giants; and the figures in proportion and bigness of all the
beasts; birds; trees; and herbs; that the earth bringeth forth; and of
all the fishes that the sea or waters of his kingdom breedeth。 He had
also ropes; budgets; chests; and troughs of gold and silver; heaps of
billets of gold; that seemed wood marked out (split into logs) to
burn。 Finally; there was nothing in his country whereof he had not the
counterfeit in gold。 Yea; and they say; the Ingas had a garden of
pleasure in an island near Puna; where they went to recreate
themselves; when they would take the air of the sea; which had all
kinds of garden…herbs; flowers; and trees of gold and silver; an
invention and magnificence till then never seen。 Besides all this; he
had an infinite quantity of silver and gold unwrought in Cuzco; which
was lost by the death of Guascar; for the Indians hid it; seeing that
the Spaniards took it; and sent it into Spain。〃

And in the 117。 chapter; Francisco Pizarro caused the gold and silver
of Atabalipa to be weighed after he had taken it; which Lopez setteth
down in these words following:〃Hallaron cincuenta y dos mil marcos
de buena plata; y un millon y trecientos y veinte y seis mil y
quinientos pesos de oro。〃 Which is; 〃They found 52;000 marks of good
silver; and 1;326;500 pesos of gold。〃 Now; although these reports may
seem strange; yet if we consider the many millions which are daily
brought out of Peru into Spain; we may easily believe the same。 For we
find that by the abundant treasure of that country the Spanish king
vexes all the princes of Europe; and is become; in a few years; from a
poor king of Castile; the greatest monarch of this part of the world;
and likely every day to increase if other princes forslow the good
occasions offered; and suffer him to add this empire to the rest;
which by far exceedeth all the rest。 If his gold now endanger us; he
will then be unresistible。 Such of the Spaniards as afterwards
endeavoured the conquest thereof; whereof there have been many; as
shall be declared hereafter; thought that this Inga; of whom this
emperor now living is descended; took his way by the river of Amazons;
by that branch which is called Papamene (The Papamene is a tributary
not of the Amazon river but of the Meta; one of the principal
tributaries of the Orinoco)。 For by that way followed Orellana; by the
commandment of Gonzalo Pizarro; in the year 1542; whose name the river
also beareth this day。 Which is also by others called Maranon;
although Andrew Thevet doth affirm that between Maranon and Amazons
there are 120 leagues; but sure it is that those rivers have one head
and beginning; and the Maranon; which Thevet describeth; is but a
branch of Amazons or Orellana; of which I will speak more in another
place。 It was attempted by Ordas; but it is now little less than 70
years since that Diego Ordas; a Knight of the Order of Santiago;
attempted the same; and it was in the year 1542 that Orellana
discovered the river of Amazons; but the first that ever saw Manoa was
Juan Martinez; master of the munition to Ordas。 At a port called
Morequito (probably San Miguel); in Guiana; there lieth at this day a
great anchor of Ordas his ship。 And this port is some 300 miles within
the land; upon the great river of Orenoque。 I rested at this port four
days; twenty days after I left the ships at Curiapan。

The relation of this Martinez; who was the first that discovered
Manoa; his success; and end; is to be seen in the Chancery of St。 Juan
de Puerto Rico; whereof Berreo had a copy; which appeared to be the
greatest encouragement as well to Berreo as to others that formerly
attempted the discovery and con

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