LAURENCE KEYMIS a.d. 



1596. 

 boate could carrie. Amongst other trees we cut downe 

 one for an example, which I do verily beleeve to be the 

 same sort of sinamon, which is found in the streights 

 of Magellan. From Caperwacka wee passed to Cawo, 

 and there met with a Canoa, wherein were two Indians. 

 It was long time before wee could procure them to come 

 neere us, for they doubted least wee were Spanish. 

 When my interpreter had perswaded them the contrarie, 

 and that wee came from England, they without farther 

 speech or delay, brought us to Wareo their Captaine, who 

 entertained us most friendly, and then at large declared 

 unto us, that hee was lately chased by the Spaniards 

 from Moruga, one of the neighbour rivers to Raleana, 

 or Orenoque : and that having burnt his owne houses, 

 and destroyed his fruites and gardens, hee had left his 

 countrey and townes to bee possessed by the Arwaccas 

 who are a vagabound nation of Indians, which finding 

 no certaine place of abode of their owne, doe for the most 

 part serve and follow the Spanyards. Hee shewed me that 

 he was of the nation of the laos, who are a mightie people, The laos a 

 and of a late time were Lords of all the sea coast so farre ^'^g^tie nation. 

 as Trinidad, which they likewise possessed. Howbeit, 

 that with a generall consent, when the Spanyards first 

 began to borrow some of their wives, they all agreed 

 to change their habitation, and doe now live united for 

 the most part towards the river of Amazones. But the 

 especiall cause of his present remoove was, because two 

 or three yeeres past, twentie Spaniards came to his towne, 

 and sought to take his best wife from him : but before 

 they carried her away, hee at time and place of advantage 

 killed halfe of them : the rest fledde, most of them 

 sore hurt. Now in this case hee thought it best to dwell 

 farre ynough from them. Your Indian pilot Ferdinando, Ferdlnando 

 who conducted you by Amana, and now abideth neere the .^ Indian 

 head of Dessekebe, is one of this mans subjects : By if^alter 

 whom (as it may seeme) hee hath taken good notice Ralegh. 

 of our princesse and countrey. For hee descended more [III. 674. 

 particularly to inquire what forces were come with us, 



455 



