Dominica to Amazons； which is above 250 leagues； all the chief Indians
in all parts wear of those plates of Guiana。 Undoubtedly those that
trade Amazons return much gold； which （as is aforesaid） cometh by
trade from Guiana； by some branch of a river that falleth from the
country into Amazons； and either it is by the river which passeth by
the nations called Tisnados； or by Caripuna。
I made enquiry amongst the most ancient and best travelled of the
Orenoqueponi； and I had knowledge of all the rivers between Orenoque
and Amazons； and was very desirous to understand the truth of those
warlike women； because of some it is believed； of others not。 And
though I digress from my purpose； yet I will set down that which hath
been delivered me for truth of those women； and I spake with a
cacique； or lord of people； that told me he had been in the river； and
beyond it also。 The nations of these women are on the south side of
the river in the provinces of Topago； and their chiefest strengths and
retracts are in the islands situate on the south side of the entrance；
some 60 leagues within the mouth of the said river。 The memories of
the like women are very ancient as well in Africa as in Asia。 In
Africa those that had Medusa for queen； others in Scythia； near the
rivers of Tanais and Thermodon。 We find； also； that Lampedo and
Marthesia were queens of the Amazons。 In many histories they are
verified to have been； and in divers ages and provinces； but they
which are not far from Guiana do accompany with men but once in a
year； and for the time of one month； which I gather by their relation；
to be in April； and that time all kings of the borders assemble； and
queens of the Amazons； and after the queens have chosen； the rest cast
lots for their valentines。 This one month they feast； dance； and drink
of their wines in abundance； and the moon being done they all depart
to their own provinces。 They are said to be very cruel and
bloodthirsty； especially to such as offer to invade their territories。
These Amazons have likewise great store of these plates of gold； which
they recover by exchange chiefly for a kind of green stones； which the
Spaniards call piedras hijadas； and we use for spleen…stones （stones
reduced to powder and taken internally to cure maladies of the
spleen）； and for the disease of the stone we also esteem them。 Of
these I saw divers in Guiana； and commonly every king or cacique hath
one； which their wives for the most part wear； and they esteem them as
great jewels。
But to return to the enterprise of Berreo； who； as I have said；
departed from Nuevo Reyno with 700 horse； besides the provisions above
rehearsed。 He descended by the river called Cassanar； which riseth in
Nuevo Reyno out of the mountains by the city of Tunja； from which
mountain also springeth Pato； both which fall into the great river of
Meta； and Meta riseth from a mountain joining to Pamplona； in the same
Nuevo Reyno de Granada。 These； as also Guaiare； which issueth out of
the mountains by Timana； fall all into Baraquan； and are but of his
heads； for at their coming together they lose their names； and
Baraquan farther down is also rebaptized by the name of Orenoque。 On
the other side of the city and hills of Timana riseth Rio Grande；
which falleth into the sea by Santa Marta。 By Cassanar first； and so
into Meta； Berreo passed； keeping his horsemen on the banks； where the
country served them for to march； and where otherwise； he was driven
to embark them in boats which he builded for the purpose； and so came
with the current down the river of Meta； and so into Baraquan。 After
he entered that great and mighty river； he began daily to lose of his
companies both men and horse； for it is in many places violently
swift； and hath forcible eddies； many sands； and divers islands sharp
pointed with rocks。 But after one whole year； journeying for the most
part by river； and the rest by land； he grew daily to fewer numbers；
from both by sickness； and by encountering with the people of those
regions through which he travelled； his companies were much wasted；
especially by divers encounters with the Amapaians （Amapaia was
Berrio's name for the Orinoco valley above the Caura river）。 And in
all this time he never could learn of any passage into Guiana； nor any
news or fame thereof； until he came to a further border of the said
Amapaia； eight days' journey from the river Caroli （the Caroni river；
the first great affluent of the Orinoco on the south； about 180 miles
from the sea）； which was the furthest river that he entered。 Among
those of Amapaia； Guiana was famous； but few of these people accosted
Berreo； or would trade with him the first three months of the six
which he sojourned there。 This Amapaia is also marvellous rich in
gold； as both Berreo confessed and those of Guiana with whom I had
most conference； and is situate upon Orenoque also。 In this country
Berreo lost sixty of his best soldiers； and most of all his horse that
remained in his former year's travel。 But in the end； after divers
encounters with those nations； they grew to peace； and they presented
Berreo with ten images of fine gold among divers other plates and
croissants； which； as he sware to me； and divers other gentlemen； were
so curiously wrought； as he had not seen the like either in Italy；
Spain； or the Low Countries； and he was resolved that when they came
to the hands of the Spanish king； to whom he had sent them by his
camp…master； they would appear very admirable； especially being
wrought by such a nation as had no iron instruments at all； nor any of
those helps which our goldsmiths have to work withal。 The particular
name of the people in Amapaia which gave him these pieces； are called
Anebas； and the river of Orenoque at that place is about twelve
English miles broad； which may be from his outfall into the sea 700 or
800 miles。
This province of Amapaia is a very low and a marish ground near the
river； and by reason of the red water which issueth out in small
branches through the fenny and boggy ground； there breed divers
poisonful worms and serpents。 And the Spaniards not suspecting； nor in
any sort foreknowing the danger； were infected with a grievous kind of
flux by drinking thereof； and even the very horses poisoned therewith；
insomuch as at the end of the six months that they abode there； of all
their troops there were not left above 120 soldiers； and neither horse
nor cattle。 For Berreo hoped to have found Guiana be 1；000 miles
nearer than it fell out to be in the end； by means whereof they
sustained much want； and much hunger； oppressed with grievous
diseases； and all the miseries that could be imagined。 I demanded of
those in Guiana that had travelled Amapaia； how they lived with that
tawny or red water when they travelled thither； and they told me that
after the sun was near the middle of the sky； they used to fill their
pots and pitchers with that water； but either before that time or
towards the setting of the sun it was dangerous to drink of； and in
the night strong poison。 I learned also of divers other rivers of that
nature among them； which were also； while the sun was in the meridian；
very safe to drink； and in the morning； evening； and night； wonderful
dangerous and infective。 From this province Berreo hasted away as soon
as the spring and beginning of summer appeared； and sought his
entrance on the borders of Orenoque on the south side； but there ran a
ledge of so high and impassable mountains； as he was not able by any
means to march over them； continuing from the east sea into which
Orenoque falleth； even to Quito in Peru。 Neither had he means to carry
victual or munition over those craggy； high； and fast hills； being all
woody； and those so thick and spiny； and so full or prickles； thorns；
and briars； as it is impossible to creep through them。 He had also
neither friendship among the people； nor any interpreter to persuade
or treat with them； and more； to his disadvantage； the caciques and
kings of Amapaia had given knowledge of his purpose to the Guianians；
and that he sought to sack and conquer the empire； for the hope of
their so great abundance and quantities of gold。 He passed by the
mouths of many great rivers which fell into Orenoque both from the
north and south； which I forbear to name； for tediousness； and because
they are more pleasing in describing than reading。
Berreo affirmed that there fell an hundred rivers into Orenoque from
the north and south： whereof the least was as big as Rio Grande （the
Magdalena）； that passed between Popayan and Nuevo Reyno de Granada；
Rio Grande being esteemed one of the renowned rivers in all the West
Indies； and numbered among the great rivers of the world。 But he knew
not the names of any of these； but Caroli only； neither from what
nations they descended； neither to what provinces they led； for he had
no means to discourse with the inhabitants at any time； neither was he
curious in these things； being utterly unlearned； and not knowing the
east from the west。 But of all these I got some knowledge； and of many
more； partly by mine own travel； and the rest by conference； of some
one I learned one； of others the rest； having with me an Indian that
spake many languages； and that of Guiana （the Carib） naturally。 I
sought out all the aged men； and such as were greatest travellers。 And
by the one and the other I came to understand the situations； the
rivers； the kingdoms from the east sea to the borders of Peru； and
from Orenoque southward as far as Amazons or Maranon； and the regions
of Marinatambal （north coasts of Brazil）； and of all the kings of
provinces； and captains of towns and villages； how they stood in terms
of peace or war； and which were friends or enemies the one with the
other； without which there can be neither entrance nor conquest in
those parts； nor elsewhere。 For by the dissension between Guascar and
Atabalipa； Pizarro conquered Peru； and by the hatred that the
Tlaxcallians bare to Mutezuma； Cortes was victorious over Mexico；
without which both the one and the other had failed of their
enterprise； and of the great honour and riches which they attained
unto。
Now Berreo began to gro