THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA ad. 



1595- 

 The next day we hasted thence, and having an Easterly They enter 

 winde to helpe us, we spared our armes from rowing : for ^^^ river Qre- 

 after wee entred Orenoque, the River lieth for the most ^^^^ne^h East 

 part East and West, even from the Sea unto Quito in and West. 

 Peru. This River is navigable with barkes, litle lesse 

 then a thousand miles, & from the place where we entred, 

 it may be sailed up in small pinnesses to many of the 

 best parts of Nuevo reyno de Granada, and of Popayan : 

 and from no place may the cities of these parts of the 

 Indies be so easily taken and invaded as from hence. All 

 that day wee sailed up a branch of that River, having on 

 the left hand a great yland which they call Assapana which The yle of 

 may conteine some five and twentie miles in length, ^^^^P^^^- 

 and sixe miles in breadth, the great body of the River 

 running on the other side of this yland. Beyond that 

 middle branch there is also another yland in the River 

 called Iwana, which is twise as bigge as the yle of Wight, The yland of 

 and beyond it, and betweene it and the maine of Guiana, ^'^^^^' 

 runneth a thirde branch of Orenoque called Arraroopana : 

 all three are goodly branches, and all navigable for great 

 ships. I judge the river in this place to be at least 

 thirty miles brode, reckoning the ylands which devide 

 the branches in it, for afterwards I sought also both 

 the other branches. 



After wee reached to the head of the yland, called [III. 649.] 

 Assapana, a little to the Westward on the right hand 

 there opened a river which came from the North, called 

 Europa, and fel into the great River, and beyond it on 

 the same side, wee anckered for that night, by another 

 yland sixe miles long, and two miles broade, which they 

 call Ocaywita : From hence in the morning wee landed 

 two Guianians, which wee found in the Towne of Topari- The yle of 

 maca, that came with us, who went to give notice of our Or^^iw^z/^. 

 comming to the Lord of that countrey called Putyma, a 

 follower of Topiawari, chiefe Lord of Aromaia, who suc- 

 ceeded Morequito, whom (as you have heard before) 

 Berreo put to death : but his towne being farre within 

 the land, he came not unto us that day, so as we ankered 



395 



