AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1595. 



But because there may arise many doubts, and how this 

 Empire of Guiana is become so populous, and adorned 

 with so many great Cities, townes, temples, and treasures, 

 I thought good to make it knowen, that the Emperour 

 now reigning is descended from those magnificent princes 

 of Peru, of whose large territories, of whose policies, con- 

 quests, edifices, and riches Pedro de Cieza, Francisco 

 Lopez, and others have written large discourses : for when 

 Francisco Pizarro, Diego Almagro and others conquered 

 the said Empire of Peru, and had put to death Atabalipa 

 Sonne to Guaynacapa, which Atabalipa had formerly caused 

 his eldest brother Guascar to bee slaine, one of the yonger 

 sonnes of Guaynacapa fled out of Peru, and tooke with 

 him many thousands of those souldiers of the Empire 

 called Orejones, and with those and many others which 

 followed him, hee vanquished all that tract and valley of 

 America which is situate betweene the great river of 

 Amazones, and Baraquan, otherwise called Orenoque and 

 Marannon. 



The Empire of Guiana is directly East from Peru 



towards the Sea, and lieth under the Equinoctial line, and 



it hath more abundance of golde then any part of Peru, 



and as many or moe great Cities then ever Peru had when 



it flourished most : it is governed by the same lawes, and 



the Emperour and people observe the same religion, and 



the same forme and policies in government as were used 



in Peru, not differing in any part : and I have bene 



The siatelines assured by such of the Spaniards as have scene Manoa the 



o/Manoa. Imperial Citie of Guiana, which the Spaniards call El 



Dorado, that for the greatnesse, for the riches, and for the 



excellent seat, it farre exceedeth any of the world, at 



least of so much of the world as is knowen to the Spanish 



nation : it is founded upon a lake of salt water of 200. 



leagues long like unto Mare Caspium. And if we compare 



Fran. Lopez it to that of Peru, & but read the report of Francisco 



de Gomara Lopez and others, it will seeme more then credible : and 



,20 * because we may judge of the one by the other, I 



thought good to insert part of the 120. Chapter of 



356 



