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第18章

the discovery of guiana-第18章

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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
the Orenoque on this side of Amapaia。 And that river is greater than
Danubius; or any of Europe: it riseth on the south of Guiana from the
mountains which divide Guiana from Amazons; and I think it to be
navigable many hundred miles。 But we had no time; means; nor season of
the year; to search those rivers; for the causes aforesaid; the winter
being come upon us; although the winter and summer as touching cold
and heat differ not; neither do the trees ever sensibly lose their
leaves; but have always fruit either ripe or green; and most of them
both blossoms; leaves; ripe fruit; and green; at one time: but their
winter only consisteth of terrible rains; and overflowing of the
rivers; with many great storms and gusts; thunder and lightnings; of
which we had our fill ere we returned。

On the north side; the first river that falleth into the Orenoque is
Cari。 Beyond it; on the same side is the river of Limo。 Between these
two is a great nation of Cannibals; and their chief town beareth the
name of the river; and is called Acamacari。 At this town is a
continual market of women for three or four hatchets apiece; they are
bought by the Arwacas; and by them sold into the West Indies。 To the
west of Limo is the river Pao; beyond it Caturi; beyond that Voari;
and Capuri (the Apure river); which falleth out of the great river of
Meta; by which Berreo descended from Nuevo Reyno de Granada。 To the
westward of Capuri is the province of Amapaia; where Berreo wintered
and had so many of his people poisoned with the tawny water of the
marshes of the Anebas。 Above Amapaia; toward Nuevo Reyno; fall in
Meto; Pato and Cassanar。 To the west of those; towards the provinces
of the Ashaguas and Catetios; are the rivers of Beta; Dawney; and
Ubarro; and toward the frontier of Peru are the provinces of
Thomebamba; and Caxamalca。 Adjoining to Quito in the north side of
Peru are the rivers of Guiacar and Goauar; and on the other side of
the said mountains the river of Papamene which descendeth into Maranon
or Amazons; passing through the province Motilones; where Don Pedro de
Orsua; who was slain by the traitor Aguirre before rehearsed; built
his brigandines; when he sought Guiana by the way of Amazons。

Between Dawney and Beta lieth a famous island in Orenoque (now called
Baraquan; for above Meta it is not known by the name of Orenoque)
which is called Athule (cataract of Ature); beyond which ships of
burden cannot pass by reason of a most forcible overfall; and current
of water; but in the eddy all smaller vessels may be drawn even to
Peru itself。 But to speak of more of these rivers without the
description were but tedious; and therefore I will leave the rest to
the description。 This river of Orenoque is navigable for ships little
less than 1;000 miles; and for lesser vessels near 2;000。 By it; as
aforesaid; Peru; Nuevo Reyno and Popayan may be invaded: it also
leadeth to the great empire of Inga; and to the provinces of Amapaia
and Anebas; which abound in gold。 His branches of Casnero; Manta;
Caura descend from the middle land and valley which lieth between the
easter province of Peru and Guiana; and it falls into the sea between
Maranon and Trinidad in two degrees and a half。 All of which your
honours shall better perceive in the general description of Guiana;
Peru; Nuevo Reyno; the kingdom of Popayan; and Rodas; with the
province of Venezuela; to the bay of Uraba; behind Cartagena;
westward; and to Amazons southward。 While we lay at anchor on the
coast of Canuri; and had taken knowledge of all the nations upon the
head and branches of this river; and had found out so many several
people; which were enemies to the Epuremei and the new conquerors; I
thought it time lost to linger any longer in that place; especially
for that the fury of Orenoque began daily to threaten us with dangers
in our return。 For no half day passed but the river began to rage and
overflow very fearfully; and the rains came down in terrible showers;
and gusts in great abundance; and witha

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