the discovery of guiana-第1章
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The Discovery of Guiana
by Walter Raleigh
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
Sir Walter Raleigh may be taken as the great typical figure of the
age of Elizabeth。 Courtier and statesman； soldier and sailor；
scientist and man of letters； he engaged in almost all the main
lines of public activity in his time； and was distinguished in
them all。
His father was a Devonshire gentleman of property； connected with
many of the distinguished families of the south of England。 Walter
was born about 1552 and was educated at Oxford。 He first saw
military service in the Huguenot army in France in 1569； and in
1578 engaged； with his half…brother； Sir Humphrey Gilbert； in the
first of his expeditions against the Spaniards。 After some service
in Ireland； he attracted the attention of the Queen； and rapidly
rose to the perilous position of her chief favorite。 With her
approval； he fitted out two expeditions for the colonization of
Virginia； neither of which did his royal mistress permit him to
lead in person； and neither of which succeeded in establishing a
permanent settlement。
After about six years of high favor； Raleigh found his position at
court endangered by the rivalry of Essex； and in 1592； on
returning from convoying a squadron he had fitted out against the
Spanish； he was thrown into the Tower by the orders of the Queen；
who had discovered an intrigue between him and one of her ladies
whom he subsequently married。 He was ultimately released； engaged
in various naval exploits； and in 1594 sailed for South America on
the voyage described in the following narrative。
On the death of Elizabeth； Raleigh's misfortunes increased。 He was
accused of treason against James I； condemned； reprieved； and
imprisoned for twelve years； during which he wrote his 〃History of
the World；〃 and engaged in scientific researches。 In 1616 he was
liberated； to make another attempt to find the gold mine in
Venezuela； but the expedition was disastrous； and； on his return；
Raleigh was executed on the old charge in 1618。 In his vices as in
his virtues； Raleigh is a thorough representative of the great
adventurers who laid the foundations of the British Empire。
RALEIGH'S DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
The Discovery of the large； rich； and beautiful EMPIRE Of GUIANA； with
a Relation of the great and golden CITY of MANOA； which the Spaniards
call EL DORADO； and the PROVINCES of EMERIA； AROMAIA； AMAPAIA； and
other Countries； with their rivers； adjoining。 Performed in the year
1595 by Sir WALTER RALEIGH； KNIGHT； CAPTAIN of her Majesty's GUARD；
Lord Warden of the STANNARIES； and her Highness' LIEUTENANT…GENERAL of
the COUNTY of CORNWALL。
To the Right Honourable my singular good Lord and kinsman CHARLES
HOWARD； Knight of the Garter； Baron； and Councillor； and of the
Admirals of England the most renowned； and to the Right Honourable SIR
ROBERT CECIL； KNIGHT； Councillor in her Highness' Privy Councils。
For your Honours' many honourable and friendly parts； I have hitherto
only returned promises； and now； for answer of both your adventures； I
have sent you a bundle of papers； which I have divided between your
Lordship and Sir Robert Cecil； in these two respects chiefly； first；
for that it is reason that wasteful factors； when they have consumed
such stocks as they had in trust； do yield some colour for the same in
their account； secondly； for that I am assured that whatsoever shall
be done； or written； by me； shall need a double protection and
defence。 The trial that I had of both your loves； when I was left of
all； but of malice and revenge； makes me still presume that you will
be pleased （knowing what little power I had to perform aught； and the
great advantage of forewarned enemies） to answer that out of
knowledge； which others shall but object out of malice。 In my more
happy times as I did especially honour you both； so I found that your
loves sought me out in the darkest shadow of adversity； and the same
affection which accompanied my better fortune soared not away from me
in my many miseries； all which though I cannot requite； yet I shall
ever acknowledge； and the great debt which I have no power to pay； I
can do no more for a time but confess to be due。 It is true that as my
errors were great； so they have yielded very grievous effects； and if
aught might have been deserved in former times； to have counterpoised
any part of offences； the fruit thereof； as it seemeth； was long
before fallen from the tree； and the dead stock only remained。 I did
therefore； even in the winter of my life； undertake these travails；
fitter for bodies less blasted with misfortunes； for men of greater
ability； and for minds of better encouragement； that thereby； if it
were possible； I might recover but the moderation of excess； and the
least taste of the greatest plenty formerly possessed。 If I had known
other way to win； if I had imagined how greater adventures might have
regained； if I could conceive what farther means I might yet use but
even to appease so powerful displeasure； I would not doubt but for one
year more to hold fast my soul in my teeth till it were performed。 Of
that little remain I had； I have wasted in effect all herein。 I have
undergone many constructions； I have been accompanied with many
sorrows； with labour； hunger； heat； sickness； and peril； it appeareth；
notwithstanding； that I made no other bravado of going to the sea；
than was meant； and that I was never hidden in Cornwall； or elsewhere；
as was supposed。 They have grossly belied me that forejudged that I
would rather become a servant to the Spanish king than return； and the
rest were much mistaken； who would have persuaded that I was too
easeful and sensual to undertake a journey of so great travail。 But if
what I have done receive the gracious construction of a painful
pilgrimage； and purchase the least remission； I shall think all too
little； and that there were wanting to the rest many miseries。 But if
both the times past； the present； and what may be in the future； do
all by one grain of gall continue in eternal distaste； I do not then
know whether I should bewail myself； either for my too much travail
and expense； or condemn myself for doing less than that which can
deserve nothing。 From myself I have deserved no thanks； for I am
returned a beggar； and withered； but that I might have bettered my
poor estate； it shall appear from the following discourse； if I had
not only respected her Majesty's future honour and riches。
It became not the former fortune； in which I once lived； to go
journeys of picory （marauding）； it had sorted ill with the offices of
honour； which by her Majesty's grace I hold this day in England； to
run from cape to cape and from place to place； for the pillage of
ordinary prizes。 Many years since I had knowledge； by relation； of
that mighty； rich； and beautiful empire of Guiana； and of that great
and golden city； which the Spaniards call El Dorado； and the naturals
Manoa； which city was conquered； re…edified； and enlarged by a younger
son of Guayna…capac； Emperor of Peru； at such time as Francisco
Pizarro and others conquered the said empire from his two elder
brethren； Guascar and Atabalipa； both then contending for the same；
the one being favoured by the orejones of Cuzco； the other by the
people of Caxamalca。 I sent my servant Jacob Whiddon； the year before；
to get knowledge of the passages； and I had some light from Captain
Parker； sometime my servant； and now attending on your Lordship； that
such a place there was to the southward of the great bay of Charuas；
or Guanipa： but I found that it was 600 miles farther off than they
supposed； and many impediments to them unknown and unheard。 After I
had displanted Don Antonio de Berreo； who was upon the same
enterprise； leaving my ships at Trinidad； at the port called Curiapan；
I wandered 400 miles into the said country by land and river； the
particulars I will leave to the following discourse。
The country hath more quantity of gold； by manifold； than the best
parts of the Indies； or Peru。 All the most of the kings of the borders
are a
