Raleigh_ being (together with _Grey_, _Cobham_, and the _Romish_
Priests, _Watson_ and _Clark_) found guilty of High Treason, was
Condemn’d to die; but being Repriev’d by the King, was kept a Prisoner
in the _Tower_ for the space of fourteen years; during which time he
wrote a Description of _Guiana_; which the King perusing, was so well
pleas’d with it, especially since he undertook to make out by several
Reasons, that _England_ might make it self Master of divers Gold-Mines
there, to which _Spain_ could lay no manner of Claim, that he discharg’d
him out of Prison, and permitted him to make a second Expedition:
Whereupon with ten Ships, _Anno 1617._ he set Sail for _Guiana_ again;
being toss’d with divers Storms, he at last came with five Sail to the
River _Calliana_, where he fell dangerously sick, and therefore sent
Captain _Keymes_ with five Sail to the River _Orinoque_, to conduct the
Men to the Gold-Mines; each Ship carrying fifty Men, and the other
Captains being _Parker_, _North_, _Thornap_, and Sir _Walter Raleigh_’s
Son. The _Spaniards_ having a Garrison at _Orinoque_, fir’d very
fiercely at the _English_, who suffer’d great damage, and amongst divers
others, Captain _Raleigh_ himself was slain, whilest the other five Sail
lay near the Island _Trinidad_, under _John Pennington_’s Command, who
daily fear’d the _Spanish_ Fleet. But _Keymes_ found it very difficult
to Land in _Orinoque_, by reason of the Banks along the Shore, which
_Diego de Palameque_ from _Puerto Rico_ kept strongly guarded; therefore
going to an even Shore with intention to Land, he was so sharply
receiv’d by a Body of _Spanish_ Musquetteers, that divers of his Men
were mortally wounded; yet breaking in amongst them, he went towards the
Gold-Mines, to which the Way led through a Wood where the _Spaniards_
lay in Ambuscade; but he judg’d himself too weak to do any good upon the
Mines, one of which belong’d to _Peter Rodrigo de Parama_, a second to
_Herviano Frontino_, and the third to _Francisco Fashardo_: The
_English_ also were fearful, by reason of the _Spaniards_ Cruelties, who
not long before had flay’d several Merchants alive; so that _Keymes_
contented himself with pillaging and burning the Town _St. Thomas_,
which the _Spaniards_ had deserted. Soon after which Captain _Whitby_
ran away with a Ship from the Fleet, whilest _Keymes_ return’d back to
_Raleigh_, who laid several things to his Charge concerning the
unnecessary Expence and shame of such an unsuccessful Voyage; which so
wrought upon _Keymes_, that he offer’d to lay violent hands on himself
in his Cabbin. At length _Raleigh_ returning to _London_, was accus’d by
the _Spanish_ Ambassador _Gundamor_ for the burning _St. Thomas_, urging
that his Master resented it so ill, that he threatned to wage a War with
_England_ if _Raleigh_ was not Executed; who notwithstanding he
alledg’d, That the _Spaniards_ shew’d the first Acts of Hostility
against the _English_, who onely defended themselves; and that _St.
Thomas_ was burnt without his knowledge or Order; and that _Keymes_ had
not observ’d his Command in the discovering of the Gold-Mines, (which
Apologies were generally look’d upon as real Truths) yet the King
esteeming the Peace with _Spain_ of more value than one Man’s Life,
without taking notice of _Gundemor_’s Accusations, commanded that the
Sentence formerly pass’d on him for Treason should be Executed, and
accordingly in the sixtieth year of his Age he was Beheaded, discovering
himself, by his Christian Behavior and Profession at his Death, to be a
far other kind of Person than what the World had censur’d him to be.
Since this last Expedition of Sir _Walter Raleigh_, we find not that
there hath been any great Resort or Trade unto this Countrey, except by
a few _Netherland_ Merchants, who have yearly sent eight or nine Ships
to the River _Orinoque_ for Tobacco.
[Sidenote: The temperature of the Air.]
As for the Air or Climate of _Guiana_, it is very differing, for about
the _Amazone_ River, dry Weather begins about _August_, and the windy
and rainy Season about _February_; but Westward towards _Orinoque_, the
Summer takes beginning in _October_, and the Winter in _April_; the Days
and Nights are almost of an equal length, and the difference of Heat and
Cold is but little.
Burning-Feavers, Dropsie, and the _Jawnes_, destroy many People here;
which last is not unlike the _POX_, and proceeds from carnal Copulation
with the _Guianian_ Women, who are naturally subject to this Disease.
[Sidenote: The Nature of the Inhabitants.]
The Inhabitants are divided into several sorts, the chiefest whereof
being the _Caribbees_ go naked, covering onely their Privities with a
Lappet. The Women, though yellow, are very comely; and both Men and
Women paint their Bodies with _Netto_, which grows on little Trees in
Cods: They make Holes through their Noses, Lips and Ears, and hang
Glass, Bells, pieces of Copper, or any other Trifles that they get from
the _English_ and _Netherlanders_, in them: About their Necks, Arms and
Legs, they wear Strings of Beads, or Cockle-shells.
Their Houses with low Roofs, serve them onely to sleep in the Night upon
Cotton Hammocks, for in the day-time they sit under high Arch’d open
places, that the Wind may blow full upon them. Their Houshold-stuff
consists of Earthen Pots and Dishes neatly painted. They live in Tribes
or Families together in a Town, which is Govern’d by the eldest of them;
and their _Militia_ is Commanded by one that is able to endure most
Stripes with Switches without any shew of pain. The chiefest of their
Families have commonly three or four Wives, whereas others are contented
with one. The Men seldom do any toilsom Work, but make their Wives do
all, insomuch that as soon as a Woman is Deliver’d of a Child, she must
immediately go about her usual Employment, whilest her Husband lies
lozelling out his Moneth on a Hammock.
Their Language sounds not unpleasantly, but is hard to learn, because
many words differ but little in the pronunciation, and yet have quite
another signification.
When they march into the Field against their Enemies, then the General
sends a Stick to all the Villages under his Jurisdiction, on which are
cut so many Notches as there are Days appointed before he intends to set
forth, which they cut out again as the Days expire, and on the last they
repair to the appointed place.
A not much unlike Custom they observe in all Promises and Bargains; for
they give one another as many Sticks as they desire Days to perform the
same in, and so throw away every day one, till they have onely one
remaining, and then they begin to think of performing their Promise or
Bargain.
They know no word whereby to express any greater number than Ten; Twenty
they express by laying their ten Fingers on their Toes, and all that
exceeds Twenty, they compare to the Hairs of their Head, crying _Ounsa
awara_.
Some of the painted _Canoos_ made of the Trunks of Trees, will carry
five or six Tuns.
[Sidenote: Their manner of Fighting, Religion, _&c._]
In their Wars they use Bowes, poyson’d Arrows, short Truncheons of
speckled Wood, and Shields full of carv’d Images, and Fight without any
Order. They go upon no Design but in the Night, and upon certain
advantages. All Women and Children which they take Prisoners, are sold
for Slaves, but the Men are cruelly put to death.
There is but little of Religion that can be ascrib’d to these People,
onely that some shew Reverence to the Sun and Moon, which they believe
are both living Creatures; but they make no Offerings to them.
Their Funeral-Feasts for great Persons are strangely kept, _viz._ all
the Men making themselves Drunk with the Liquor _Parranoro_, Dance three
or four days one after another, and he that drinks most, and is worst
Drunk, gains the greatest Honor, whilest the Women lament and mourn for
the Deceased.
Their Priests, call’d _Peeaios_, are in great esteem amongst them,
because they pretend that they Converse with the Spirits _Wattipa_ and
_Yarakin_, which the _Guianians_ exceedingly fear, apprehending
themselves often beaten black and blue by them.
The _Peeaios_ also profess themselves to be Chirurgeons and Doctors, but
if they cure not their Patients, they go in danger of their Lives,
unless they speedily get away.
They burn their dead Bodies, together with those things the Deceased
affected most in his Life-time. A Prince or Governor also hath his
Slaves put to death at the time when he is burn’d, that they may serve
him in the other World.
[Sidenote: Their Bread-Corn.]
The _Cassavi_-Root press’d, boyl’d with Pepper, dry’d and bak’d on hot
Stones, serves the Natives for Bread.
Each Grain that is Sown here produces in Harvest above fifteen hundred.
Their Corn makes wholsom and well tasted Beer, call’d _Passiaw_, and of
their stamp’d _Cassavi_ they make the Liquor _Parranow_.
In hollow Trees, and Caves under Ground, they find abundance of Honey;
and their Vines afford them excellent Grapes twice a year.
No Plant is ever seen here without either Leaf, Blossom, or Fruit,
except the _European_ Apple-Tree, which never changes its nature, but
blossoms and bears Fruit at the same time of the year as in _Europe_.
The wild Hogs _Pokkiero_, whose Navels grow on their Backs; and the
_Pangio_, not unlike our Swine, afford the Inhabitants excellent Food.
Here are also Water-hogs, of a very delicious taste; but because they
are very apprehensive, and dive at the least noise, they are seldom
taken.
The Woods are full of Baboons and Apes, as also the slothful Beast _Ai_.
The Hares here, being of a brown Colour, with white Specks, and the red
Rabbets, are accounted great Delicacies.
There is no Countrey in _America_, which breeds greater _Armadillo_’s
than _Guiana_, some of them weighing eighty Pound.
Here are also Bears, which live on nothing but Pismires; they have long
hairy Tails, with which they cover their Bodies in rainy Weather; they
put their Tongues a Foot deep into the Pismires Nests, and so pulls them
out.
The Tygers here are either black, spotted, or red; but the black exceed
the other in cruelty, yet are seldom seen near inhabited places; the
spotted and red devour abundance of Cattel, but will seldom set upon a
Man, especially in the day-time.
The Woods are also full of Land-Turtles, which the Inhabitants take, and
keep till they have occasion to make use of their Flesh.
The Eagles that are here with their Claws, Engage with those that go
about to take them.
The Catamountains make such an exceeding noise at a certain hour, both
in the Night and in the Day, that it is heard two Leagues off.
The _Marmozets_, a little Beast, biting the Catamountains and Apes in
the Ears, forces them to leap from one Tree to another.
The black Beast _Quotto_ hath a Face like an old Woman, and hanging by
the Tail, swings from one Tree to another.
The _Cuscary_ is a brown four-footed Creature, about the bigness of a
little Dog, but hath the shape of a Lyon.
[Sidenote: Birds.]
Moreover, _Guiana_ produces Teal, Geese, Crains, Phesants, Partridges,
Pigeons, Marlins, Snipes, Falcons, Plovers, and Parrots of all sorts,
besides many other strange Fowls; amongst which the chiefest are a sort
whose Feathers glitter like Scarlet, and walk along in Rank and Fyle
like Soldiers.
[Sidenote: Fish.]
The Sea produces abundance of Turbots, Soals, Thornback, yellow Salmon,
Sturgeon, Black-fish, Gurnets, Crabs, and Oysters.
Amongst other Fishes, the _Cassoorwa_, which is somewhat bigger than an
Eel, is very strange, having two Sights in each Eye, of which it always
holds one above, and the other underneath the Water when it swims.
Here are also the great Fishes call’d _Manati_ and _Num-eel_, by which
if any part of a Man be touch’d, it immediately becomes stiff.
[Sidenote: Vermin.]
There are likewise divers Vermine, which trouble the Countrey _Guiana_,
among which are Serpents, of thirty Foot long, that come out of the
Water and feed on the Land; they do little hurt, as not being poysonous:
but there are many of a lesser size, whose biting is so venomous, that
it causes the Flesh of a Man to rot in twenty four hours time: others
there are which have forked Tails, and Tusks in the Roof of their
Mouthes.
The Crocodiles here also devour abundance of Cattel.
[Sidenote: Strange kind of Scorpions.]
The Scorpions, which are black, and resemble a Lobster, breed under dry
Wood or Corn; their Stings are hid in their Tails, with which if any one
be touch’d, he is sure to endure an intolerable pain, but without danger
of losing his Life for the present, yet nothing can perfectly cure the
same, except the Scorpion kill’d and laid on the Wound.
The Bats here are as big as Pigeons, and they suck the Blood of Men and
Beasts so gently, that they seldom perceive the same.
The Pismires also do great mischief, especially in sandy Grounds; and
likewise the _Musketo_’s, whose Stings cause painful Swellings; but
these most of all trouble them that inhabit near the Sea side on low
Lands, insomuch that the Fisher-men bury themselves in the Night in
Sand, leaving onely Holes to breathe at.
Frogs and Toads also make a terrible noise here, and especially after
Rain.
[Sidenote: Commodities of the Countrey.]
The Soil is inferior to none in the World, for the production of Sugar;
but the general Commodities of the Countrey are Flax, Cotton, Hemp, the
Berry _Annoto_, which Dyes an excellent Orange colour, another Berry
which Dyes a deep Blue, a Tree whose Leaves Dye a Red, and the Wood of
another Tree whose Juice Dyes a Purple and Crimson.
Moreover, _Guiana_ produces the Gums _Lemnia_, _Barattu_, and
_Carriman_, which being black and prickly, smells very pleasantly, and
cures the Head-ache, Bruises, Pains in the Limbs, Gouts, and green
Wounds. The same operation hath the Gum _Baratta_.
Here are also good _Sena_, _Bolus Armenius_, _Cassia-Fistula_,
_Terra-Lemnia_, the Berry _Kelette_, very effectual against the
Bloody-flux, the Juice of the Leaf _Upee_, which cures the Wounds of
poyson’d Arrows, and a sort of somniferous Apples, whereof the least
bite occasions a deadly Sleep.
There is also a Tree, generally growing about the Houses of the Natives,
the Boughs whereof bruis’d between two Stones, and thrown into the
Creeks of deep Water full of Fish, cause them to swim above Water upon
their Backs.
The _Letter_-Wood call’d _Pira timinere_, turns also to a good account,
much more the excellent Stones, Jasper and Porphyr.
Nor are there wanting Gold and Silver-Mines, which doubtless would yield
great profit, were they open’d.
The Grain of the Countrey grows on Stalks seven Foot long, on the tops
whereof hang two Ears full of Kernels as big as Pease, which ripens in
four Moneths.
The Sugar-Canes, being of the bigness of a Man’s Arm, and about six Foot
long, are at the years end cut off, broken and press’d in a Mill; after
which the Juice boyl’d in Copper Kettles to a certain Substance, is put
into woodden Tunnels, square at the top, and narrow at bottom, with a
small Hole, which is open’d as soon as the Sugar is sufficiently
hardned, to let out the Syrrup; after which it is put into Hogsheads,
and so Transported.
The _Negro_’s which are brought from _Angola_ and _Guinee_, are so
cruelly us’d, that they oftentimes through despair destroy themselves.
The whole Countrey of _Guiana_ is by several modern Writers methodically
divided into these inferior or lesser Provinces, 1. _Rio de las
Amazones._ 2. _Wiapoco_, or _Guiana_, properly so call’d. 3. _Orenoque_;
and 4. The Islands of _Guiana_.
[Sidenote: _Rio de las Amazones._]
_Rio de las Amazones_, or the Countrey of the _Amazones_, contains all
that part of _Guiana_ which lieth on both sides of the River _Orellano_,
of a rich and good Soil, generally, abounding with all sorts of Fruits,
and especially with those which the _Americans_ call _Totok_, and love
it extreamly, out of an opinion, they say, that it excites them to
Venery, whereunto they are of themselves but too much inclin’d; and
another which they call _Pita_, of a taste far more delicious and
pleasing, and not so hurtful as the other. The Countrey was first
discover’d by the fore-mention’d _Francisco Orellana_, a _Spaniard_ from
_Quito_, but it was onely by the River _Orellana_; and though he be
credibly reported to have Sail’d no less than eighteen hundred Leagues
down the Stream, and to have discover’d a rich and fair Countrey on both
sides the River, well peopled with Natives, and giving in divers places
no small Arguments of greater Wealth and Riches more within Land; yet
such was the bad success of his second Endeavors, and likewise of those
that follow’d him, as is evident from what hath been before related,
that, as yet, there seems no farther Report to be given, at least not of
any thing special, concerning that part of the Countrey.
[Sidenote: _Wiapoco_, or _Guiana_, properly so call’d.]
_Wiapoco_, or _Guiana_, properly so call’d, taketh up the middle part of
this Province, being divided, as the other, almost into two equal parts,
by the River _Wiapoco_, which runs through the midst of it. The Countrey
on both sides of the River is very rich and fertile, and so naturally
apt, both for Sugar-Canes, Cotton-Wooll, and Tobacco, that they are said
to grow here (all of them very good) without Planting, or any art of
Husbandry. In this Countrey likewise should be the famous _Dorada_, as
the _Spaniards_ call it, or _City of Gold_ (if it could be found) with
the reports and hopes whereof some of our own Nation seem to have been
not a little possess’d as well as the _Spaniards_: nor can we much blame
them; for if the Stories of it had prov’d true, it must have been one of
the goodliest and fairest Cities in the World (not to speak of the
Wealth.) _Diego de Ordas_, the _Spaniard_ of whom we have lately had
occasion to make frequent mention of, being reported by some to have
travell’d one whole day, and half another in it, before he could arrive
at the King’s Palace; which yet must be suppos’d to have stood but in
the midst of the City. Places of less Magnificence, but more Certainty,
are 1. _Caripo_, which was once a Colony of _English_, setled there by
Captain _Robert Harcourt_, Anno 1608. upon the Banks of _Wiapoco_, and
not far from the Mouth of it; being a place, by the advantage of a Rock,
which it hath on the one side of it, of great strength and very
difficult access; the Air about it sound, and said to be very agreeable
to _English_ Bodies. 2. _Gomaribo_, a Colony formerly of the _Dutch_, on
the North-West side of the Bay of _Wiapoco_, but since deserted by them.
3. _Woyemon._ 4. _Crewinay_, both of them Towns of the Natives, not far
distant from the other.
[Sidenote: _Orinoque._]
_Orinoque_, or the third Division of this Province, comprehendeth the
most Northerly parts of _Guiana_, lying upon, or towards the Banks of
this famous River: a Countrey likewise reported to be very rich, and
comparable to _Peru_ it self for hidden Treasure, which, they say, is
not yet discover’d, onely for want of diligent and industrious
searching. The Places in it already known are onely 1. _Coniolaba_, as
they call it, which seems to be some Town of the Natives, lying a few
Leagues distant from the _Orinoque_, towards the South. 2. _Morequito_,
a known Port or Haven-Town upon a Branch of the _Orinoque_, much
frequented, and of great use to the _English_ when they discover’d these
Coasts. 3. _Wenicapora_: and 4. _St Thomas_, the onely Town which the
_Spaniards_ hold upon this part of the Continent, situate upon the
principal Channel of the _Orinoque_, and consisting of two hundred
Families, or thereabouts: It is now a fortifi’d Place, and was taken by
Sir _Walter Raleigh_, in that unfortunate Action of 1617. above related
more at large.
[Sidenote: Islands belonging to _Guiana_.]
The Islands that belong to, and are commonly reckon’d as parts of
_Guiana_, are either such as lie scatter’d about the Shore of the
Province, or such as are found at the Mouth, and sometime far within the
Channel of those great Rivers, which empty themselves at several parts
of this Countrey into the Sea, _viz._ _Orinoque_, _Wiapoco_, _Rio de las
Amazones_, &c. There are many of them, but of any great name or esteem,
onely two, _viz._ _Trinidado_ and _Tabago_, the Description whereof we
shall here omit, as having already taken notice of them amongst the
_Sotaventi_ and _Caribbee_ Islands.
[Illustration]
CHAP. IX.
Paria, or New Andalusia.
[Sidenote: Situation and Description of _Nova Andalusia_.]
VVestward of _Guiana_ lieth the Countrey of _Paria_, so call’d from its
chief River: It hath also the Denomination of _New Andalusia_, but for
what resemblance with _Andalusia_ of _Old Spain_, they do not tell us.
This Countrey lying as it doth, brings us back again by the Eastern
Coast to the _Isthmus_ or _Strait_, which, as we have often said, joyns
the two parts of the Continent of _America_ together, at least to those
Countreys that lie next upon it to the South, _viz._ the Kingdom of
_Granada_, &c. It hath on the East _Guiana_, and those Islands which lie
about the Mouth of _Orinoque_; on the West, the Gulf or Bay of
_Venezuela_, with some part of the new Kingdom abovesaid; on the North
it is wash’d with the _Atlantick_ Ocean; and on the South hath some
Countreys yet undiscover’d, toward the _Andes_. The whole consisteth
partly of Continent, and partly of Islands near adjoyning to it, and is
commonly divided into five several Precincts or Parts, which are 1.
_Cumana._ 2: _Venezuela_, being upon the Continent, 3. _Margareta._ 4.
_Cubagua_, two Islands above-mention’d, famous for Pearl-fishing; and
lastly, some lesser islands.
SECT. II.
Cumana.
[Sidenote: Bounds and Description of _Cumana_.]
_Cumana_ is bounded Eastward with the Gulf of _Paria_ and the River
_Orinoque_; on the West, with _Venezuela_; Northward it hath the
_Atlantick_; and on the South, those undiscover’d Countreys above
mention’d; extending along the Northern Ocean, over against _Margareta_
two hundred Leagues or more, as some say, in length, and not much less
than a hundred in breadth.
The Coast of this Countrey, as well as of the Islands _Margareta_ and
_Cabagua_, hath formerly been much fam’d for the rich Trade of Pearls
and Pearl-fishing; which failing, its principal esteem now is for an
excellent Vein of Salt, which they dig here as out of a Mine, and gather
it naturally made ready to their Hands, not half a Mile from the Sea
side, on the back side of the Promontory or Cape, by some call’d _Punto
de Araya_, and by others for this reason _Cape de Salinas_.
[Sidenote: Towns and Places of note.]
Places of chiefest consideration here, are 1. _Cumana_ it self, a Colony
of _Spaniards_ seated on the Banks of a little River two Miles distant
from the Sea, where it hath a good Harbor.
2. _St. Jago_, a very strong Fortress, which the _Spaniards_ of late
years have built, for the defence and security of the Salt-works against
the _Dutch_, who began to Trade much that way, and in the Year 1622. had
a Design to have made themselves Masters of the Place.
3. _St. Michael de Neveri_, another Fortress of theirs, standing upon a
River bearing the same Name.
4. _Guaniba_, a Town of the Natives.
This Countrey of _Cumana_, being generally infested with terrible
Crocodiles, hath a large Inlet call’d _Cariaco_, which flows fourteen
Leagues into the Countrey.
[Sidenote: Manners and Customs of the People.]
The Men of this Countrey wear Cotton Cloaks, and anointing their Bodies
with Gum, stick the same full of Feathers.
When they go to Wars, or to a general Feast, then they shave their Hair
off above their Ears, pull out their Beards, and black their Teeth with
a certain Herb.
Their Princes and Grandees take as many Wives as they please, and give
to those of their Guests whom they intend most to oblige, their choice
of the fairest of them to lie with.
Whoring is accounted no shame, except amongst Marry’d Women, who
generally live very Chaste, unless their Husbands consent to their
Adultery.
The Women also Hunt, Fish, Shoot, and Swim, and are diligent in Tilling
their Lands, and other Houshold Affairs. Most of them have sore Eyes,
occasion’d not so much (as some wrongfully suppose) by their drinking of
the Water out of the Stream _Cumana_, but proceeding rather from their
unwholsom Food, as Spiders, and the like.
Amongst the several sorts of Trees that grow here, there are some that
yield a white well scented Gum, or delicious Juice like Milk, and
produce a Fruit not unlike a Mulberry, which may be boyl’d to an
excellent Syrrup; the Wood also strikes Fire: There are others, whose
Timber is good for Shipping.
The Soil also produces _Cassia-Fistula_, Roses, and other strong
smelling Flowers and Herbs.
[Sidenote: Beasts.]
For Beasts, besides Lyons, Tygers, and wild Hogs, there are several
strange kinds here, as the _Cappa_, which is bigger than an Ass, having
shaggy and black Hair; it runs away from Mankind, but devours whatsoever
else it meets with.
The _Aranata_, which hath a Goats Beard, and is of the bigness of a
Greyhound; it howls very dreadfully, and feeds on Fruits.