the discovery of guiana(发现圭亚那)-第16节
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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 of
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Guiana； which appeared in sight。
In the morning there came down； according to promise； the lord of that
border； called Toparimaca； with some thirty or forty followers； and
brought us divers sorts of fruits； and of his wine； bread； fish； and flesh；
whom we also feasted as we could； at least we drank good Spanish wine；
whereof we had a small quantity in bottles； which above all things they
love。 I conferred with this Toparimaca of the next way to Guiana； who
conducted our galley and boats to his own port； and carried us from thence
some mile and a…half to his town； where some of our captains caroused of
his wine till they were reasonable pleasant； for it is very strong with
pepper； and the juice of divers herbs and fruits digested and purged。 They
keep it in great earthen pots of ten or twelve gallons； very clean and sweet；
and are themselves at their meetings and feasts the greatest carousers and
drunkards of the world。 When we came to his town we found two caciques；
whereof one was a stranger that had been up the river in trade； and his
boats； people； and wife encamped at the port where we anchored； and the
other was of that country； a follower of Toparimaca。 They lay each of them
in a cotton hamaca； which we call Brazil beds； and two women attending
them with six cups； and a little ladle to fill them out of an earthen pitcher
of wine； and so they drank each of them three of those cups at a time one
to the other； and in this sort they drink drunk at their feasts and meetings。
That cacique that was a stranger had his wife staying at the port where
we anchored； and in all my life I have seldom seen a better favoured
woman。 She was of good stature； with black eyes； fat of body； of an
excellent countenance； her hair almost as long as herself； tied up again in
pretty knots； and it seemed she stood not in that awe of her husband as the
rest； for she spake and discoursed； and drank among the gentlemen and
captains； and was very pleasant； knowing her own comeliness； and taking
great pride therein。 I have seen a lady in England so like to her； as but for
the difference of colour； I would have sworn might have been the same。
The seat of this town of Toparimaca was very pleasant； standing on a
little hill； in an excellent prospect； with goodly gardens a mile compass
round about it； and two very fair and large ponds of excellent fish
adjoining。 This town is called Arowocai； the people are of the nation
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called Nepoios； and are followers of Carapana。 In that place I saw very
aged people； that we might perceive all their sinews and veins without any
flesh； and but even as a case covered only with skin。 The lord of this place
gave me an old man for pilot； who was of great experience and travel； and
knew the river most perfectly both by day and night。 And it shall be
requisite for any man that passeth it to have such a pilot； for it is four； five；
and six miles over in many places； and twenty miles in other places； with
wonderful eddies and strong currents； many great islands； and divers
shoals； and many dangerous rocks； and besides upon any increase of wind
so great a billow； as we were sometimes in great peril of drowning in the
galley； for the small boats durst not come from the shore but when it was
very fair。
The next day we hasted thence； and having an easterly wind to help us；
we spared our arms from rowing； for after we entered Orenoque； the river
lieth for the most part east and west； even from the sea unto Quito； in Peru。
This river is navigable with barks little less than 1000 miles； and from the
place where we entered it may be sailed up in small pinnaces to many of
the best parts of Nuevo Reyno de Granada and of Popayan。 And from no
place may the cities of these parts of the Indies be so easily taken and
invaded as from hence。 All that day we sailed up a branch of that river；
having on the left hand a great island； which they call Assapana； which
may contain some five…and… twenty miles in length； and six miles in
breadth； the great body of the river running on the other side of this island。
Beyond that middle branch there is also another island in the river； called
Iwana； which is twice as big as the Isle of Wight； and beyond it； and
between it and the main of Guiana； runneth a third branch of Orenoque；
called Arraroopana。 All three are goodly branches； and all navigable for
great ships。 I judge the river in this place to be at least thirty miles broad；
reckoning the islands which divide the branches in it； for afterwards I
sought also both the other branches。
After we reached to the head of the island called Assapana； a little to
the westward on the right hand there opened a river which came from the
north； called Europa； and fell into the great river； and beyond it on the
same side we anchored for that night by another island； six miles long and
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two miles broad； which they call Ocaywita。 From hence； in the morning；
we landed two Guianians； which we found in the town of Toparimaca； that
came with us； who went to give notice of our coming to the lord of that
country； called Putyma； a follower of Topiawari； chief lord of Aromaia；
who succeeded Morequito； whom （as you have heard before） Berreo put to
death。 But his town being far within the land； he came not unto us that day；
so as we anchored again that night near the banks of another land； of
bigness much like the other； which they call Putapayma； over against
which island； on the main land； was a very high mountain called Oecope。
We coveted to anchor rather by these islands in the river than by the main；
because of the tortugas' eggs； which our people found on them in great
abundance； and also because the ground served better for us to cast our
nets for fish； the main banks being for the most part stony and high and the
rocks of a blue； metalline colour； like unto the best steel ore； which I
assuredly take it to be。 Of the same blue stone are also divers great
mountains which border this river in many places。
The next morning； towards nine of the clock； we weighed anchor； and
the breeze increasing； we sailed always west up the river； and； after a
while； opening the land on the right side； the country appeared to be
champaign and the banks shewed very perfect red。 I therefore sent two of
the little barges with Captain Gifford； and with him Captain Thyn； Captain
Caulfield； my cousin Greenvile； my nephew John Gilbert； Captain Eynos；
Master Edward Porter； and my cousin Butshead Gorges； with some few
soldiers； to march over the banks of that red land and to discover what
manner of country it was on the other side； who at their return found it all
a plain level as far as they went or could discern from the highest tree they
could get upon。 And my old pilot； a man of great travel； brother to the
cacique Toparimaca； told me that those were called the plains of the
Sayma； and that the same level reached to Cumana and Caracas； in the
West Indies； which are a hundred and twenty leagues to the north； and that
there inhabited four principal nations。 The first were the Sayma； the next
Assawai； the third and greatest the Wikiri； by whom Pedro Hernandez de
Serpa； before mentioned； was overthrown as he passed with 300 horse
from Cumana towards Orenoque in his enterprise of Guiana。 The fourth
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