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THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
passage into Guiana； nor any possibility to return towards Peru by the
same Amazons； by reason that the descent of the river made so great a
current； he was enforced to disemboque at the mouth of the said Amazons；
which cannot be less than 1；000 leagues from the place where they
embarked。 From thence he coasted the land till he arrived at Margarita to
the north of Mompatar； which is at this day called Puerto de Tyranno； for
that he there slew Don Juan de Villa Andreda； Governor of Margarita； who
was father to Don Juan Sarmiento； Governor of Margarita when Sir John
Burgh landed there and attempted the island。 Aguirre put to the sword all
other in the island that refused to be of his party； and took with him certain
cimarrones （fugitive slaves） and other desperate companions。 From thence
he went to Cumana and there slew the governor； and dealt in all as at
Margarita。 He spoiled all the coast of Caracas and the province of
Venezuela and of Rio de la Hacha； and； as I remember； it was the same
year that Sir John Hawkins sailed to St。 Juan de Ullua in the Jesus of
Lubeck； for himself told me that he met with such a one upon the coast；
that rebelled； and had sailed down all the river of Amazons。 Aguirre from
thence landed about Santa Marta and sacked it also； putting to death so
many as refused to be his followers； purposing to invade Nuevo Reyno de
Granada and to sack Pamplona； Merida； Lagrita； Tunja； and the rest of the
cities of Nuevo Reyno； and from thence again to enter Peru； but in a fight
in the said Nuevo Reyno he was overthrown； and； finding no way to
escape； he first put to the sword his own children； foretelling them that
they should not live to be defamed or upbraided by the Spaniards after his
death； who would have termed them the children of a traitor or tyrant； and
that； sithence he could not make them princes； he would yet deliver them
from shame and reproach。 These were the ends and tragedies of Ordas；
Martinez； Orellana； Orsua； and Aguirre。 Also soon after Ordas followed
Jeronimo Ortal de Saragosa； with 130 soldiers； who failing his entrance by
sea； was cast with the current on the coast of Paria； and peopled about S。
Miguel de Neveri。 It was then attempted by Don Pedro de Silva； a
Portuguese of the family of Ruy Gomez de Silva； and by the favour which
Ruy Gomez had with the king he was set out。 But he also shot wide of the
mark； for being departed from Spain with his fleet； he entered by Maranon
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THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
or Amazons； where by the nations of the river and by the Amazons； he was
utterly overthrown； and himself and all his army defeated； only seven
escaped； and of those but two returned。
After him came Pedro Hernandez de Serpa； and landed at Cumana； in
the West Indies； taking his journey by land towards Orenoque； which may
be some 120 leagues； but ere he came to the borders of the said river； he
was set upon by a nation of the Indians； called Wikiri； and overthrown in
such sort； that of 300 soldiers； horsemen； many Indians； and negroes； there
returned but eighteen。 Others affirm that he was defeated in the very
entrance of Guiana； at the first civil town of the empire called
Macureguarai。 Captain Preston； in taking Santiago de Leon （which was by
him and his companies very resolutely performed； being a great town； and
far within the land） held a gentleman prisoner； who died in his ship； that
was one of the company of Hernandez de Serpa； and saved among those
that escaped； who witnessed what opinion is held among the Spaniards
thereabouts of the great riches of Guiana； and El Dorado； the city of Inga。
Another Spaniard was brought aboard me by Captain Preston； who told
me in the hearing of himself and divers other gentlemen； that he met with
Berreo's campmaster at Caracas； when he came from the borders of
Guiana； and that he saw with him forty of most pure plates of gold；
curiously wrought； and swords of Guiana decked and inlaid with gold；
feathers garnished with gold； and divers rarities； which he carried to the
Spanish king。
After Hernandez de Serpa； it was undertaken by the Adelantado； Don
Gonzalez Ximenes de Quesada； who was one of the chiefest in the
conquest of Nuevo Reyno； whose daughter and heir Don Antonio de
Berreo married。 Gonzalez sought the passage also by the river called
Papamene； which riseth by Quito； in Peru； and runneth south…east 100
leagues； and then falleth into Amazons。 But he also； failing the entrance；
returned with the loss of much labour and cost。 I took one Captain George；
a Spaniard； that followed Gonzalez in this enterprise。 Gonzalez gave his
daughter to Berreo； taking his oath and honour to follow the enterprise to
the last of his substance and life。 Who since； as he hath sworn to me； hath
spent 300；000 ducats in the same； and yet never could enter so far into the
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THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
land as myself with that poor troop； or rather a handful of men； being in all
about 100 gentlemen； soldiers； rowers； boat…keepers； boys； and of all sorts；
neither could any of the forepassed undertakers； nor Berreo himself；
discover the country； till now lately by conference with an ancient king；
called Carapana （Caribana； Carib land； was an old European name for the
Atlantic coast near the mouth of the Orinoco； and hence was applied to
one of its chiefs。 Berrio called this district 〃Emeria〃）； he got the true light
thereof。 For Berreo came about 1；500 miles ere he understood aught； or
could find any passage or entrance into any part thereof； yet he had
experience of all these fore…named； and divers others； and was persuaded
of their errors and mistakings。 Berreo sought it by the river Cassanar；
which falleth into a great river called Pato： Pato falleth into Meta； and
Meta into Baraquan； which is also called Orenoque。 He took his journey
from Nuevo Reyno de Granada； where he dwelt； having the inheritance of
Gonza