the discovery of guiana(发现圭亚那)-第15节
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what soldier soever could take one of those three Spaniards that we
thought were landed。 But our labours were in vain in that behalf； for they
put themselves into one of the small canoas； and so； while the greater
canoas were in taking； they escaped。 But seeking after the Spaniards we
found the Arwacas hidden in the woods； which were pilots for the
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Spaniards； and rowed their canoas。 Of which I kept the chiefest for a pilot；
and carried him with me to Guiana； by whom I understood where and in
what countries the Spaniards had laboured for gold； though I made not the
same known to all。 For when the springs began to break； and the rivers to
raise themselves so suddenly as by no means we could abide the digging
of any mine； especially for that the richest are defended with rocks of hard
stones； which we call the white spar； and that it required both time； men；
and instruments fit for such a work； I thought it best not to hover
thereabouts； lest if the same had been perceived by the company； there
would have been by this time many barks and ships set out； and perchance
other nations would also have gotten of ours for pilots。 So as both
ourselves might have been prevented； and all our care taken for good
usage of the people been utterly lost； by those that only respect present
profit； and such violence or insolence offered as the nations which are
borderers would have changed the desire of our love and defence into
hatred and violence。 And for any longer stay to have brought a more
quantity； which I hear hath been often objected； whosoever had seen or
proved the fury of that river after it began to arise； and had been a month
and odd days； as we were； from hearing aught from our ships； leaving
them meanly manned 400 miles off； would perchance have turned
somewhat sooner than we did； if all the mountains had been gold； or rich
stones。 And to say the truth； all the branches and small rivers which fell
into Orenoque were raised with such speed； as if we waded them over the
shoes in the morning outward； we were covered to the shoulders
homeward the very same day； and to stay to dig our gold with our nails；
had been opus laboris but not ingenii。 Such a quantity as would have
served our turns we could not have had； but a discovery of the mines to
our infinite disadvantage we had made； and that could have been the best
profit of farther search or stay； for those mines are not easily broken； nor
opened in haste； and I could have returned a good quantity of gold ready
cast if I had not shot at another mark than present profit。
This Arwacan pilot； with the rest； feared that we would have eaten
them； or otherwise have put them to some cruel death： for the Spaniards；
to the end that none of the people in the passage towards Guiana； or in
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THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
Guiana itself； might come to speech with us； persuaded all the nations that
we were men…eaters and cannibals。 But when the poor men and women
had seen us； and that we gave them meat； and to every one something or
other which was rare and strange to them； they began to conceive the
deceit and purpose of the Spaniards； who indeed； as they confessed took
from them both their wives and daughters daily 。 。 。 But I protest before the
Majesty of the living God； that I neither know nor believe； that any of our
company； one or other； did offer insult to any of their women； and yet we
saw many hundreds； and had many in our power； and of those very young
and excellently favoured； which came among us without deceit； stark
naked。 Nothing got us more love amongst them than this usage； for I
suffered not any man to take from any of the nations so much as a pina
（pineapple） or a potato root without giving them contentment； nor any man
so much as to offer to touch any of their wives or daughters； which course；
so contrary to the Spaniards； who tyrannize over them in all things； drew
them to admire her Majesty； whose commandment I told them it was； and
also wonderfully to honour our nation。 But I confess it was a very
impatient work to keep the meaner sort from spoil and stealing when we
came to their houses； which because in all I could not prevent； I caused
my Indian interpreter at every place when we departed； to know of the loss
or wrong done； and if aught were stolen or taken by violence； either the
same was restored； and the party punished in their sight； or else was paid
for to their uttermost demand。 They also much wondered at us； after they
heard that we had slain the Spaniards at Trinidad； for they were before
resolved that no nation of Christians durst abide their presence； and they
wondered more when I had made them know of the great overthrow that
her Majesty's army and fleet had given them of late years in their own
countries。
After we had taken in this supply of bread； with divers baskets of roots；
which were excellent meat； I gave one of the canoas to the Arwacas；
which belonged to the Spaniards that were escaped； and when I had
dismissed all but the captain； who by the Spaniards was christened Martin；
I sent back in the same canoa the old Ciawani； and Ferdinando； my first
pilot； and gave them both such things as they desired； with sufficient
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victual to carry them back； and by them wrote a letter to the ships； which
they promised to deliver； and performed it； and then I went on； with my
new hired pilot； Martin the Arwacan。 But the next or second day after； we
came aground again with our galley； and were like to cast her away； with
all our victual and provision； and so lay on the sand one whole night； and
were far more in despair at this time to free her than before； because we
had no tide of flood to help us； and therefore feared that all our hopes
would have ended in mishaps。 But we fastened an anchor upon the land；
and with main strength drew her off； and so the fifteenth day we
discovered afar off the mountains of Guiana； to our great joy； and towards
the evening had a slent （push） of a northerly wind that blew very strong；
which brought us in sight of the great river Orenoque； out of which this
river descended wherein we were。 We descried afar off three other canoas
as far as we could discern them； after whom we hastened with our barge
and wherries； but two of them passed out of sight； and the third entered up
the great river； on the right hand to the westward； and there stayed out of
sight； thinking that we meant to take the way eastward towards the
province of Carapana； for that way the Spaniards keep； not daring to go
upwards to Guiana； the people in those parts being all their enemies； and
those in the canoas thought us to have been those Spaniards that were fled
from Trinidad； and escaped killing。 And when we came so far down as the
opening of that branch into which they slipped； being near them with our
barge and wherries； we made after them； and ere they could land came
within call； and by our interpreter told them what we were； wherewith they
came back willingly aboard us； and of such fish and tortugas' （turtles） eggs
as they had gathered they gave us； and promised in the morning to bring
the lord of that part with them； and to do us all other services they could。
That night we came to an anchor at the parting of the three goodly rivers
（the one was the river of Amana； by which we came from the north； and
ran athwart towards the south； the other two were of Orenoque； which
crossed from the west and ran to the sea towards the east） and landed upon
a fair sand； where we found thousands of tortugas' eggs； which are very
wholesome meat； and greatly restoring； so as our men were now well
filled and highly contented both with the fare； and nearness of the land
