A.D. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1596. 



he had sometime conversed with our Indians, that went 

 from England with us, hee became willing to see our 

 countrey. His sufficiencie, trustinesse, and knowledge 

 is such, that if the pretended voyage for Guiana doe take 

 place, you shall (I doubt not) find him many wayes able 

 to steed your Lordship in your designes and purposes. 

 For besides his precise knowledge of all the coast, and 

 of the Indian townes and dwellings, he speaketh all their 

 languages, was bred in Guiana, is a sworne brother to 

 Putima, who slewe the Spaniards in their returne from 

 Manoa, can direct us to many golde mines, and in nothing 

 will undertake more, then hee assuredly will performe. 

 To the Westward this Bay hath many good roads under 

 small Islands, whereof the greatest named Gowateri, is 

 inhabited by the Shebaios : and besides the plenty of 

 foule, fish, fruits, wilde porks and deere, which are there 

 to be had, where Caiane falles into the sea, (for it standeth 

 in the mouthes of Wia and Caiane) it yeeldes safe and 

 good harbour in foure and five fathome for ships of great 

 burthen. On all that coast we found not any like it : 

 Port Howard wee therefore honoured this place by the name of Port 

 otherwise Howard. The road under Triangle Islands, which are 

 Gowateri. ^^ Westermost from the rest and stand in five degrees, 

 [III. 675.] which have also store of fish, foule, deere and Iwanas, 

 is good, but not comparable with this other, where in 

 all windes and weather, shippes, though they be 

 many, may all ride securely. The hils and high lands 

 are limits to this bay on ech side : for to the Eastward 

 beyond it appeare none at all, and to the Westward of 

 mount Hobbeigh very few. Where the mountaines 

 faile, there Brasill wood is no farther to bee sought for : 

 but in all parts cotton, pepper, silke and Balsamum trees 

 doe grow in abundance. The rootes of the herbe Wia- 

 passa are here most plentifull : I finde them in taste 

 nothing difl^erent from good ginger, and in operation 

 very medicinable against the flixe and headach. These 

 rivers, as also others neerer Raleana, doe all fall out 

 of the plaines of this empire over rocks, as the river 



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