THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA ad. 



^595 

 a while ; after wee had fedde, we drew our selves 



backe to our boats, upon the river and there came to 



us all the lordes of the countrey, with all such kinde 



of victuall as the place yeelded, and with their delicate 



wine of Pinas, and with abundance of hens, and other 



provisions, and of those stones which wee call Spleene- 



stones. 



Wee understood by the chiefetaines of Winicapora, 

 that their lord Carapana was departed from Emeria 

 which was now in sight, & that he was fled to 

 Cairamo, adjoyning to the mountains of Guiana, over [III. 658.] 

 the valley called Amariocapana, being perswaded by 

 those tenne Spaniards which lay at his house, that 

 we would destroy him, and his countrey. 



But after these Cassiques of Winicapora & Sapora- 

 tona his followers perceived our purpose, and saw that 

 we came as enemies to the Spaniards onely, and had 

 not so much as harmed any of those nations, no 

 though we found them to be of the Spaniards owne 

 servants, they assured us that Carapana would be as 

 ready to serve us, as any of the lords of the pro- 

 vinces, which we had passed; and that he durst doe 

 no other till this day but entertaine the Spaniards, his 

 countrey lying so directly in their way, and next of 

 all other to any entrance that should be made in 

 Guiana on that side. 



And they farther assured us, that it was not for 

 feare of our comming that he was remooved, but to 

 be acquited of the Spaniards or any other that should 

 come hereafter. For the province of Cairoma is situate 

 at the mountaine foote, which devideth the plaines of 

 Guiana from the countreys of the Orenoqueponi : by 

 meanes whereof if any should come in our absence into 

 his townes, hee would slip over the mountaines into the 

 plaines of Guiana among the Epuremei, where the 

 Spaniards durst not follow him without great force. 



But in mine opinion, or rather I assure my selfe, that 

 Carapana (being a notable wise and subtil fellow, a man 



419 



