THE DISCOVERS OF GUIANA ad 



1595- 

 they confessed) tooke from them both their wives and 

 daughters dayly, and used them for the satisfying of their 

 owne lusts, especially such as they tooke in this maner by 

 strength. But I protest before the Majestie of the living 

 God, that I neither know nor beleeve, that any of our 

 company one or other, by violence or otherwise, ever 

 knew any of their women, and yet we saw many hun- 

 dreds, and had many in our power, and of those very 

 yong, and excellently favoured, which came among us 

 without deceit, starke naked. 



Nothing got us more love amongst them then this 

 usage : for I suffered not any man to take from any of 

 the nations so much as a Pina, or a Potato roote, without 

 giving them contentment, nor any man so much as to 

 offer to touch any of their wives or daughters : which 

 course so contrary to the Spaniards (who tyrannize over 

 them in all things) drewe them to admire her Majestie, 

 whose commaundement I tolde them it was, and also 

 wonderfully to honour our nation. 



But I confesse it was a very impatient worke to keepe 

 the meaner sort from spoyle and stealing, when wee came 

 to their houses : which because in all I coulde not pre- ^ notable ^ 

 vent, I caused my Indian interpreter at every place when ^^^^"^^ ^JJ^^' 

 wee departed, to knowe of the losse or wrong done, and 

 if ought were stolen or taken by violence, either the same 

 was restored, and the partie punished in their sight, or 

 else was payed for to their uttermost demand. 



They also much wondered at us, after they heard that 

 we had slaine the Spaniards at Trinidad, for they were 

 before resolved, that no nation of Christians durst abide 

 their presence, and they wondered more when I had made 

 them know of the great overthrow that her Majesties 

 armie and Fleete had given them of late yeeres in their 

 owne Countreys. 



After we had taken in this supply of bread, with divers 

 baskets of rootes which were excellent meate, I gave one 

 of the Canoas to the Arwacas, which belonged to the 

 Spaniards that were escaped, and when I had dismissed all 



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