the discovery of guiana(发现圭亚那)-第23节
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acquitted of the Spaniards or any other that should come hereafter。 For the
province of Cairoma is situate at the mountain foot； which divideth the
plains of Guiana from the countries of the Orenoqueponi； by means
whereof if any should come in our absence into his towns； he would slip
over the mountains into the plains of Guiana among the Epuremei； where
the Spaniards durst not follow him without great force。 But in mine
opinion； or rather I assure myself； that Carapana being a notable wise and
subtle fellow； a man of one hundred years of age and therefore of great
experience； is removed to look on； and if he find that we return strong he
will be ours； if not； he will excuse his departure to the Spaniards； and say
it was for fear of our coming。
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We therefore thought it bootless to row so far down the stream； or to
seek any farther of this old fox； and therefore from the river of Waricapana；
which lieth at the entrance of Emeria； we returned again； and left to the
eastward those four rivers which fall from the mountains of Emeria into
Orenoque； which are Waracayari； Coirama； Akaniri； and Iparoma。 Below
those four are also these branches and mouths of Orenoque； which fall into
the east sea； whereof the first is Araturi； the next Amacura； the third
Barima； the fourth Wana； the fifth Morooca； the sixth Paroma； the last
Wijmi。 Beyond them there fall out of the land between Orenoque and
Amazons fourteen rivers； which I forbear to name； inhabited by the
Arwacas and Cannibals。
It is now time to return towards the north； and we found it a wearisome
way back from the borders of Emeria； to recover up again to the head of
the river Carerupana； by which we descended； and where we parted from
the galley； which I directed to take the next way to the port of Toparimaca；
by which we entered first。
All the night it was stormy and dark； and full of thunder and great
showers； so as we were driven to keep close by the banks in our small
boats； being all heartily afraid both of the billow and terrible current of the
river。 By the next morning we recovered the mouth of the river of Cumaca；
where we left Captain Eynos and Edward Porter to attend the coming of
Captain Keymis overland； but when we entered the same； they had heard
no news of his arrival； which bred in us a great doubt what might become
of him。 I rowed up a league or two farther into the river； shooting off
pieces all the way； that he might know of our being there； and the next
morning we heard them answer us also with a piece。 We took them aboard
us； and took our leave of Putijma； their guide； who of all others most
lamented our departure； and offered to send his son with us into England；
if we could have stayed till he had sent back to his town。 But our hearts
were cold to behold the great rage and increase of Orenoque； and therefore
departed； and turned toward the west； till we had recovered the parting of
the three branches aforesaid； that we might put down the stream after the
galley。
The next day we landed on the island of Assapano； which divideth the
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river from that branch by which we sent down to Emeria； and there feasted
ourselves with that beast which is called armadillo； presented unto us
before at Winicapora。 And the day following； we recovered the galley at
anchor at the port of Toparimaca； and the same evening departed with very
foul weather； and terrible thunder and showers； for the winter was come
on very far。 The best was； we went no less than 100 miles a day down the
river； but by the way we entered it was impossible to return； for that the
river of Amana； being in the bottom of the bay of Guanipa； cannot be
sailed back by any means； both the breeze and current of the sea were so
forcible。 And therefore we followed a branch of Orenoque called Capuri；
which entered into the sea eastward of our ships； to the end we might bear
with them before the wind； and it was not without need； for we had by that
way as much to cross of the main sea； after we came to the river's mouth；
as between Gravelin and Dover； in such boats as your honour hath heard。
To speak of what passed homeward were tedious； either to describe or
name any of the rivers； islands； or villages of the Tivitivas； which dwell on
trees； we will leave all those to the general map。 And to be short； when we
were arrived at the sea…side； then grew our greatest doubt； and the bitterest
of all our journey forepassed； for I protest before God； that we were in a
most desperate estate。 For the same night which we anchored in the mouth
of the river of Capuri； where it falleth into the sea； there arose a mighty
storm； and the river's mouth was at least a league broad； so as we ran
before night close under the land with our small boats； and brought the
galley as near as we could。 But she had as much ado to live as could be；
and there wanted little of her sinking； and all those in her； for mine own
part； I confess I was very doubtful which way to take； either to go over in
the pestered （crowded） galley； there being but six foot water over the
sands for two leagues together； and that also in the channel； and she drew
five； or to adventure in so great a billow； and in so doubtful weather； to
cross the seas in my barge。 The longer we tarried the worse it was； and
therefore I took Captain Gifford； Captain Caulfield； and my cousin
Greenvile into my barge； and after it cleared up about midnight we put
ourselves to God's keeping； and thrust out into the sea； leaving the galley
at anchor； who durst not adventure but by daylight。 And so； being all very
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sober and melancholy； one faintly cheering another to shew courage； it
pleased God that the next day about nine o'clock； we descried the island of
Trinidad； and steering for the nearest part of it； we kept the shore till we
came to Curiapan； where we found our ships at anchor； than which there
was never to us a more joyful sight。
Now that it hath pleased God to send us safe to our ships； it is time to
leave Guiana to the sun； whom they worship； and steer away towards the
north。 I will； therefore； in a few words finish the discovery thereof。 Of the
several nations which we found upon this discovery I will once again
make repetition； and how they are affected。 At our first entrance into
Amana； which is one of the outlets of Orenoque； we left on the right hand
of us in the bottom of the bay； lying directly against Trinidad； a nation of
inhuman Cannibals； which inhabit the rivers of Guanipa and Berbeese。 In
the same bay there is also a third river； which is called Areo； which riseth
on Paria side towards Cumana； and that river is inhabited with the Wikiri；
whose chief town upon the said river is Sayma。 In this bay there are no
more rivers but these three before rehearsed and the four branches of
Amana； all which in the winter thrust so great abundance of water into the
sea； as the same is taken up fresh two or three leagues from the land。 In the
passages towards Guiana； that is； in all those lands which the eight
branches of Orenoque fashion into islands； there are but one sort of people；
called Tivitivas； but of two castes； as they term them； the one called
Ciawani； the other Waraweeti； and those war one with another。
On the hithermost part of Orenoque； as at Toparimaca and Winicapora；
those are of a nation called Nepoios； and are the followers of Carapana；
lord of Emeria。 Between Winicapora and the port of Morequito； which
standeth in Aromaia； and all those in the valley of Amariocapana are
called Orenoqueponi； and did obey Morequito and are now followers of
Topiawari。 Upon the river of Caroli are the Canuri； which are governed by
a woman who is inheritrix of that province； who came far off to see our
nation； and asked me divers
