THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA ad. 



1595- 

 or treasure, for their labours, but onely to recover 



women from the Epuremei : for hee farther complayned 

 very sadly (as it had beene a matter of great con- 

 sequence) that whereas they were wont to have tenne 

 or twelve wives, they were now inforced to content 

 themselves with three or foure, and that the lords of the 

 Epuremei had fifty or a hundreth : And in truth they 

 war more for women then either for gold or dominion: 

 For the lords of countreys desire many children of 

 their owne bodies, to increase their races and kinreds, 

 for in those consist their greatest trust and strength. 

 Divers of his followers afterwards desired mee to make 

 haste againe, that they might sacke the Epuremei, and 

 I asked them of what ? They answered, of their 

 women for us, and their gold for you : for the hope 

 of those many of women they more desire the war, 

 then either for gold, or for the recovery of their 

 ancient territories. For what betweene the subjects of 

 Inga, and the Spaniards, those frontiers are growen 

 thinne of people, and also great numbers are fled to 

 other nations farther off for feare of the Spaniards. 



After I received this answere of the old man, we 

 fell into consideration, whether it had bene of better 

 advice to have entred Macureguarai, and to have begun 

 a warre upon Inga at this time, yea or no, if the time 

 of the yeere, and all things else had sorted. For 

 mine owne part (as we were not able to march it for 

 the rivers, neither had any such strength as was 

 requisite, and durst not abide the comming of the 

 Winter, or to tarie any longer from our ships) I thought 

 it were evill counsell to have attempted it at that time, 

 although the desire of gold will answere many objections: 

 but it would have bin in mine opinion an utter over- 

 throw to the enterprize, if the same should be here- 

 after by her Majesty attempted : for then (whereas 

 now they have heard we were enemies to the Spaniards 

 & were sent by her Majesty to relieve them) they would 

 as good cheap have joyned with the Spaniards at our 



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