this river side that Morequito slew the friar； and those nine
Spaniards which came from Manoa； the city of Inga； and took from them
14；000 pesos of gold。 So as the next day there came down a lord or
cacique； called Wanuretona； with many people with him； and brought all
store of provisions to entertain us； as the rest had done。 And as I
had before made my coming known to Topiawari； so did I acquaint this
cacique therewith； and how I was sent by her Majesty for the purpose
aforesaid； and gathered also what I could of him touching the estate
of Guiana。 And I found that those also of Caroli were not only enemies
to the Spaniards； but most of all to the Epuremei； which abound in
gold。 And by this Wanuretona I had knowledge that on the head of this
river were three mighty nations； which were seated on a great lake；
from whence this river descended； and were called Cassipagotos；
Eparegotos； and Arawagotos （the Purigotos and Arinagotos are still
settled on the upper tributaries of the Caroni river； no such lake as
that mentioned is known to exist）； and that all those either against
the Spaniards or the Epuremei would join with us； and that if we
entered the land over the mountains of Curaa we should satisfy
ourselves with gold and all other good things。 He told us farther of a
nation called Iwarawaqueri； before spoken of； that held daily war with
the Epuremei that inhabited Macureguarai； and first civil town of
Guiana； of the subjects of Inga； the emperor。
Upon this river one Captain George； that I took with Berreo； told me
that there was a great silver mine； and that it was near the banks of
the said river。 But by this time as well Orenoque； Caroli； as all the
rest of the rivers were risen four or five feet in height； so as it
was not possible by the strength of any men； or with any boat
whatsoever； to row into the river against the stream。 I therefore sent
Captain Thyn； Captain Greenvile； my nephew John Gilbert； my cousin
Butshead Gorges； Captain Clarke； and some thirty shot more to coast
the river by land； and to go to a town some twenty miles over the
valley called Amnatapoi； and they found guides there to go farther
towards the mountain foot to another great town called Capurepana；
belonging to a cacique called Haharacoa； that was a nephew to old
Topiawari； king of Aromaia； our chiefest friend； because this town and
province of Capurepana adjoined to Macureguarai； which was a frontier
town of the empire。 And the meanwhile myself with Captain Gifford；
Captain Caulfield； Edward Hancock； and some half…a…dozen shot marched
overland to view the strange overfalls of the river of Caroli； which
roared so far off； and also to see the plains adjoining； and the rest
of the province of Canuri。 I sent also Captain Whiddon； William
Connock； and some eight shot with them； to see if they could find any
mineral stone alongst the river's side。 When we were come to the tops
of the first hills of the plains adjoining to the river； we beheld
that wonderful breach of waters which ran down Caroli； and might from
that mountain see the river how it ran in three parts； above twenty
miles off； and there appeared some ten or twelve overfalls in sight；
every one as high over the other as a church tower； which fell with
that fury； that the rebound of water made it seem as if it had been
all covered over with a great shower of rain； and in some places we
took it at the first for a smoke that had risen over some great town。
For mine own part I was well persuaded from thence to have returned；
being a very ill footman； but the rest were all so desirous to go near
the said strange thunder of waters； as they drew me on by little and
little； till we came into the next valley； where we might better
discern the same。 I never saw a more beautiful country； nor more
lively prospects； hills so raised here and there over the valleys； the
river winding into divers branches； the plains adjoining without bush
or stubble； all fair green grass； the ground of hard sand； easy to
march on； either for horse or foot； the deer crossing in every path；
the birds towards the evening singing on every tree with a thousand
several tunes； cranes and herons of white； crimson； and carnation；
perching in the river's side； the air fresh with a gentle easterly
wind； and every stone that we stooped to take up promised either gold
or silver by his complexion。 Your Lordship shall see of many sorts；
and I hope some of them cannot be bettered under the sun； and yet we
had no means but with our daggers and fingers to tear them out here
and there； the rocks being most hard of that mineral spar aforesaid；
which is like a flint； and is altogether as hard or harder； and
besides the veins lie a fathom or two deep in the rocks。 But we wanted
all things requisite save only our desires and good will to have
performed more if it had pleased God。 To be short； when both our
companies returned； each of them brought also several sorts of stones
that appeared very fair； but were such as they found loose on the
ground； and were for the most part but coloured； and had not any gold
fixed in them。 Yet such as had no judgment or experience kept all that
glistered； and would not be persuaded but it was rich because of the
lustre； and brought of those； and of marcasite withal； from Trinidad；
and have delivered of those stones to be tried in many places； and
have thereby bred an opinion that all the rest is of the same。 Yet
some of these stones I shewed afterward to a Spaniard of the Caracas；
who told me that it was El Madre del Oro； that is； the mother of gold；
and that the mine was farther in the ground。
But it shall be found a weak policy in me； either to betray myself or
my country with imaginations； neither am I so far in love with that
lodging； watching； care； peril； diseases； ill savours； bad fare； and
many other mischiefs that accompany these voyages； as to woo myself
again into any of them； were I not assured that the sun covereth not
so much riches in any part of the earth。 Captain Whiddon； and our
chirurgeon； Nicholas Millechamp； brought me a kind of stones like
sapphires； what they may prove I know not。 I shewed them to some of
the Orenoqueponi； and they promised to bring me to a mountain that had
of them very large pieces growing diamond…wise； whether it be crystal
of the mountain； Bristol diamond； or sapphire； I do not yet know； but
I hope the best； sure I am that the place is as likely as those from
whence all the rich stones are brought； and in the same height or very
near。 On the left hand of this river Caroli are seated those nations
which I called Iwarawaqueri before remembered； which are enemies to
the Epuremei； and on the head of it； adjoining to the great lake
Cassipa； are situated those other nations which also resist Inga； and
the Epuremei； called Cassipagotos； Eparegotos； and Arawagotos。 I
farther understood that this lake of Cassipa is so large； as it is
above one day's journey for one of their canoas； to cross； which may
be some forty miles； and that thereinto fall divers rivers； and that
great store of grains of gold are found in the summer time when the
lake falleth by the banks； in those branches。
There is also another goodly river beyond Caroli which is called Arui；
which also runneth through the lake Cassipa； and falleth into Orenoque
farther west； making all that land between Caroli and Arui an island；
which is likewise a most beautiful country。 Next unto Arui there are
two rivers Atoica and Caura； and on that branch which is called Caura
are a nation of people whose heads appear not above their shoulders；
which though it may be thought a mere fable； yet for mine own part I
am resolved it is true； because every child in the provinces of
Aromaia and Canuri affirm the same。 They are called Ewaipanoma； they
are reported to have their eyes in their shoulders； and their mouths
in the middle of their breasts； and that a long train of hair groweth
backward between their shoulders。 The son of Topiawari； which I
brought with me into England； told me that they were the most mighty
men of all the land； and use bows； arrows； and clubs thrice as big as
any of Guiana； or of the Orenoqueponi； and that one of the
Iwarawaqueri took a prisoner of them the year before our arrival
there； and brought him into the borders of Aromaia； his father's
country。 And farther； when I seemed to doubt of it； he told me that it
was no wonder among them； but that they were as great a nation and as
common as any other in all the provinces； and had of late years slain
many hundreds of his father's people； and of other nations their
neighbours。 But it was not my chance to hear of them till I was come
away； and if I had but spoken one word of it while I was there I might
have brought one of them with me to put the matter out of doubt。 Such
a nation was written of by Mandeville； whose reports were holden for
fables many years； and yet since the East Indies were discovered； we
find his relations true of such things as heretofore were held
incredible （Mandeville； or the author who assumed this name； placed
his headless men in the East Indian Archipelago； the fable is borrowed
from older writers； Herodotus &c）。 Whether it be true or no； the
matter is not great； neither can there be any profit in the
imagination； for mine own part I saw them not； but I am resolved that
so many people did not all combine or forethink to make the report。
When I came to Cumana in the West Indies afterwards by chance I spake
with a Spaniard dwelling not far from thence； a man of great travel。
And after he knew that I had been in Guiana； and so far directly west
as Caroli； the first question he asked me was； whether I had seen any
of the Ewaipanoma； which are those without heads。 Who being esteemed a
most honest man of his word； and in all things else； told me that he
had seen many of them； I may not name him； because it may be for his
disadvantage； but he is well known to Monsieur Moucheron's son of
London； and to Peter Moucheron； merchant； of the Flemish ship that was
there in trade； who also heard； what he avowed to be true； of those
people。
The fourth river to the west of Caroli is Casnero： which falleth into