THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA a.d. 



1595- 

 rivers, some falling from the West, others from the 



East into Amana, but those I leave to the description 

 in the Cart of discovery, where every one shalbe named 

 with his rising and descent. When three dayes more 

 were overgone, our companies began to despaire, the [III. 645.] 

 weather being extreame hote, the river bordered with 

 very high trees, that kept away the aire, and the current 

 against us every day stronger then other : but we ever- 

 more commanded our pilots to promise an ende the next 

 day, and used it so long, as we were driven to assure 

 them from foure reaches of the river to three, and so 

 to two, and so to the next reach : but so long we 

 laboured, that many dayes were spent, and wee driven 

 to drawe our selves to harder allowance, our bread even 

 at the last, and no drinke at all ; and our men and our 

 selves so wearied and scorched, and doubtfull withall, 

 whether wee should ever performe it or no, the heat 

 increasing as we drew towards the line ; for wee were 

 now in five degrees. They are In 



The further we went on (our victuall decreasing and ^^^ degrees. 

 the aire breeding great faintnesse) wee grew weaker and 

 weaker, when wee had most need of strength and abilitie ; 

 for hourely the river ranne more violently then other 

 against us, and the barge, wheries, and shippes boat of 

 captaine Gifford and captaine Calfield, had spent all their 

 provisions ; so as we were brought into despaire and 

 discomfort, had wee not perswaded all the company 

 that it was but onely one dayes worke more to atteine 

 the land where wee should be relieved of all wee 

 wanted, and if we returned, that wee were sure to 

 starve by the way, and that the world would also laugh 

 us to scorne. On the banks of these rivers were 

 divers sorts of fruits good to eat, flowers and trees 

 of such variety, as were sufficient to make tenne volumes 

 of herbals : we relieved our selves many times with the 

 fruits of the countrey, and sometimes with fowle and 

 fish. Wee saw birds of all colours, some carnation, 

 some crimson, orenge-tawny, purple, watchet, and of 



X 385 2B 



