A.D. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1596. 



The two other Canoas that came from Trinidad by 

 Amana, notwithstanding that wee kept a league before 

 the shippe with our boates, sawe the shippe before 

 wee had sight of them, and presently with all speede 

 went to Berreo to advertize him of our comming. 

 Hee foorthwith dispatched two or three messengers to 

 Trinidad. One of his Canoas mette with our spie, 

 whome the Indians of Barima had left to goe with us : 

 they rifled him of his victuals, gave him knives, and 

 dismissed him. 



In eight dayes sayling still before a winde, wee arrived 



at Topiawaries Porte, in all which time no Indian that 



wee knewe came abourd us. For the time of our 



returne promised at your Lordshippes departure from 



thence being expired ; they in dispaire severed them- 



[III. 678.] selves amongst the other nations. Here the Spaniardes 



A Rancheria j^^ve seated their Rancheria of some twentie or thirtie 



planted b^ the ^o^ses. The high rockie Island, that lyeth in the 



Spaniardes at middest of the River, against the mouth of Caroli, is 



a Port of their Forte or refuge, when they misdoubt safetie in 



Topiazvary. their Towne, or having notice of any practise against 



them : but now leaving both Towne and Island, they 



joyned themselves altogether, and returning to the mouth 



of River Caroli, placed there a secret ambush, to defend 



the passage to those mines, from whence your Oare and 



white stones were taken the last yeere : Wee all not 



without griefe to see ourselves thus defeated, and our 



hungry hopes made voyde, were witnesses of this their 



remoove. As we road at an ancor within musket shot 



of their Towne, an Indian came unto us with lean 



cheekes, thinne haire, and a squint eye, to informe us 



that they were very strong, that Berreo his sonne was 



with him, that they had but two small Pinnisses at 



Trinidad, which they dayly looked for to come up the 



River, and lastly to viewe our shippe well, and our 



provision, but especially to learne whether Gualtero, 



Topiawarie his sonne were with us. 



This informers very countenance gave him to bee 



466 



