FERNANDO ALARCHON ad. 



1540. 

 Indians came from Cumana to enquire for the Christians, Cumana. 

 & that he had answered them that he knew none such, 

 but that he knew one which was the sonne of the Sunne, 

 and that they had perswaded him to joyne with them Treason of the 

 to kill mee and my companions. I wished him to lend ^^'^^^^^' 

 me two Indians, and I would send word by them, that 

 I would come unto them, and was desirous of their 

 friendship, but if that they on the contrary would have 

 warre, I would make such a warre with them, that should 

 displease them. And so I passed through all that people, 

 and some came and asked me, why I had not given them 

 Crosses as well as the rest, and so 1 gave them some. 



Chap. 9. 



They goe on land, and see the people worship the Crosse 

 which they had given them. The Captaine causeth 

 an Indian to make a draught of the countrey : hee 

 sendeth a Crosse to the Lord of Cumana, and going 

 down the River with the streame, he arriveth at his 

 ships. Of the error of the Pilots of Cortez as touch- 

 ing the situation of this Coast. 



THe next day I went on land to see certaine cottages, 

 and I found many women and children holding up 

 their hands and kneeling before a Crosse which I had 

 given them. When I came thither I did the like my 

 self; and conferring with the old man, he began to 

 informe me of as many people and Provinces as he 

 knew. And when evening was come I called the old 

 man to come and lodge with mee in my boate ; hee 

 answered that hee would not goe with mee because I 

 would wearie him with asking him questions of so many 

 matters: I told him that I would request him nothing 

 else but that he would set me downe in a charte as 

 much as he knew concerning that River, and what maner 

 of people those were which dwelt upon the banckes 

 thereof on both sides : which he did willingly. And 

 then he requested me that I would describe my countrey 

 unto him, as he had done his unto me. And for to 



315 



