A.D. 



1596. 



The small 

 forces of 

 Ximenes. 



This trans- 

 planting of 

 Indians is 

 zvorthy of con- 

 sideration. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



her : the one a servant to Berreo, (as before is men- 

 tioned) the other two marchants of Cassavi. They had 

 a letter sent from the Governour to bee conveied to 

 Trinidad, which I received. There was also a great 

 hatchet, and twentie knives, wherewith this Indian 

 servant should buy a Canoa, and hire Indians to cary 

 her up the River towardes Nuevo Reyno. This Canoa 

 forsooth with foure other were to bee sent to bring 

 downe Berreo his sonne with all his forces, which nowe 

 have bene, I thinke, full three yeeres in preparing. If 

 five such boates bee sufficient to convoy him, his men 

 and all their provision : it may seeme, hee commeth 

 with no great strength. 



This servant as hee was a man of especiall trust, and 

 neere Berreo : so appeared hee to have some insight in 

 his proceedings. He shewed mee that the Indians, who 

 with these knives should be hired, were to passe up so 

 high, as where some of the Cassanari doe dwell in 

 small villages. That Berreo his purpose was, when 

 they came thither to leave them there, and make them 

 officers over the other Indians: and in their places 

 some of the Cassanari should returne, who likewise 

 should be made Justices and Constables over them of 

 Guiana: that from Trinidad he meant to remove most 

 of the olde inhabitants, that would be tractable ; and 

 interpose them amongst the Cassanarians of Guiana, 

 and the Guianians of the Cassanari. That the Arwaccas 

 should wholly possesse Trinidad, and the river side of 

 Raleana. That they already were provided of three- 

 score Negros, to worke the mynes in these places. And 

 that by this meanes Berreo hoped to keepe these 

 severall nations in mutual enmitie each against other, 

 all to serve his turne, and never to become strong, or 

 likely to joyne themselves against him. He farther 

 shewed me, that Topiawary, soone after our departure 

 from the river, fledde into the mountaines, carying 

 Hugh Godwyn with him, and leaving a Substitute in 

 his Countrey, as aforesaide : and that the next newes 



470 



