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from Nuevo Reyno de Granada； where he dwelt； having the inheritance of
Gonzalez Ximenes in those parts； he was followed with 700 horse； he
drove with him 1；000 head of cattle； he had also many women； Indians；
and slaves。 How all these rivers cross and encounter； how the country lieth
and is bordered； the passage of Ximenes and Berreo； mine own discovery；
and the way that I entered； with all the rest of the nations and rivers； your
lordship shall receive in a large chart or map； which I have not yet finished；
and which I shall most humbly pray your lordship to secrete； and not to
suffer it to pass your own hands； for by a draught thereof all may be
prevented by other nations； for I know it is this very year sought by the
French； although by the way that they now take； I fear it not much。 It was
also told me ere I departed England； that Villiers； the Admiral； was in
preparation for the planting of Amazons； to which river the French have
made divers voyages； and returned much gold and other rarities。 I spake
with a captain of a French ship that came from thence； his ship riding in
Falmouth the same year that my ships came first from Virginia； there was
another this year in Helford； that also came from thence； and had been
fourteen months at an anchor in Amazons； which were both very rich。
Although； as I am persuaded； Guiana cannot be entered that way； yet
no doubt the trade of gold from thence passeth by branches of rivers into
the river of Amazons； and so it doth on every hand far from the country
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THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
itself； for those Indians of Trinidad have plates of gold from Guiana； and
those cannibals of Dominica which dwell in the islands by which our ships
pass yearly to the West Indies； also the Indians of Paria； those Indians
called Tucaris； Chochi； Apotomios； Cumanagotos； and all those other
nations inhabiting near about the mountains that run from Paria through
the province of Venezuela； and in Maracapana； and the cannibals of
Guanipa； the Indians called Assawai； Coaca； Ajai； and the rest （all which
shall be described in my description as they are situate） have plates of gold
of Guiana。 And upon the river of Amazons； Thevet writeth that the people
wear croissants of gold； for of that form the Guianians most commonly
make them； so as from 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
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THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
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 m