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breadth； the great body of the river running on the other side of this island。
Beyond that middle branch there is also another island in the river； called
Iwana； which is twice as big as the Isle of Wight； and beyond it； and
between it and the main of Guiana； runneth a third branch of Orenoque；
called Arraroopana。 All three are goodly branches； and all navigable for
great ships。 I judge the river in this place to be at least thirty miles broad；
reckoning the islands which divide the branches in it； for afterwards I
sought also both the other branches。
After we reached to the head of the island called Assapana； a little to
the westward on the right hand there opened a river which came from the
north； called Europa； and fell into the great river； and beyond it on the
same side we anchored for that night by another island； six miles long and
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two miles broad； which they call Ocaywita。 From hence； in the morning；
we landed two Guianians； which we found in the town of Toparimaca； that
came with us； who went to give notice of our coming to the lord of that
country； called Putyma； a follower of Topiawari； chief lord of Aromaia；
who succeeded Morequito； whom （as you have heard before） Berreo put to
death。 But his town being far within the land； he came not unto us that day；
so as we anchored again that night near the banks of another land； of
bigness much like the other； which they call Putapayma； over against
which island； on the main land； was a very high mountain called Oecope。
We coveted to anchor rather by these islands in the river than by the main；
because of the tortugas' eggs； which our people found on them in great
abundance； and also because the ground served better for us to cast our
nets for fish； the main banks being for the most part stony and high and the
rocks of a blue； metalline colour； like unto the best steel ore； which I
assuredly take it to be。 Of the same blue stone are also divers great
mountains which border this river in many places。
The next morning； towards nine of the clock； we weighed anchor； and
the breeze increasing； we sailed always west up the river； and； after a
while； opening the land on the right side； the country appeared to be
champaign and the banks shewed very perfect red。 I therefore sent two of
the little barges with Captain Gifford； and with him Captain Thyn； Captain
Caulfield； my cousin Greenvile； my nephew John Gilbert； Captain Eynos；
Master Edward Porter； and my cousin Butshead Gorges； with some few
soldiers； to march over the banks of that red land and to discover what
manner of country it was on the other side； who at their return found it all
a plain level as far as they went or could discern from the highest tree they
could get upon。 And my old pilot； a man of great travel； brother to the
cacique Toparimaca； told me that those were called the plains of the
Sayma； and that the same level reached to Cumana and Caracas； in the
West Indies； which are a hundred and twenty leagues to the north； and that
there inhabited four principal nations。 The first were the Sayma； the next
Assawai； the third and greatest the Wikiri； by whom Pedro Hernandez de
Serpa； before mentioned； was overthrown as he passed with 300 horse
from Cumana towards Orenoque in his enterprise of Guiana。 The fourth
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are called Aroras； and are as black as negroes； but have smooth hair； and
these are very valiant； or rather desperate； people； and have the most
strong poison on their arrows； and most dangerous； of all nations； of which
I will speak somewhat； being a digression not unnecessary。
There was nothing whereof I was more curious than to find out the
true remedies of these poisoned arrows。 For besides the mortality of the
wound they make； the party shot endureth the most insufferable torment in
the world； and abideth a most ugly and lamentable death； sometimes dying
stark mad； sometimes their bowels breaking out of their bellies； which are
presently discoloured as black as pitch； and so unsavory as no man can
endure to cure or to attend them。 And it is more strange to know that in all
this time there was never Spaniard； either by gift or torment； that could
attain to the true knowledge of the cure； although they have martyred and
put to invented torture I know not how many of them。 But everyone of
these Indians know it not； no； not one among thousands； but their
soothsayers and priests； who do conceal it； and only teach it but from the
father to the son。
Those medicines which are vulgar； and serve for the ordinary poison；
are made of the juice of a root called tupara； the same also quencheth
marvellously the heat of burning fevers； and healeth inward wounds and
broken veins that bleed within the body。 But I was more beholding to the
Guianians than any other； for Antonio de Berreo told me that he could
never attain to the knowledge thereof； and yet they taught me the best way
of healing as well thereof as of all other poisons。 Some of the Spaniards
have been cured in ordinary wounds of the common poisoned arrows with
the juice of garlic。 But this is a general rule for all men that shall hereafter
travel the Indies where poisoned arrows are used； that they must abstain
from drink。 For if they take any liquor into their body； as they shall be
marvellously provoked thereunto by drought； I say； if they drink before the
wound be dressed； or soon upon it； there is no way with them but present
death。
And so I will return again to our journey； which for this third day we
finished； and cast anchor again near the continent on the left hand between
two mountains； the one called Aroami and the other Aio。 I made no stay
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here but till midnight； for I feared hourly lest any rain should fall； and then
it had been impossible to have gone any further up； notwithstanding that
there is every day a very strong breeze and eas