LOPEZ VAZ AD. 



1572-87. 

 and Fernambuck runneth the mightie river of Marannon, The great 

 whereof (both because of the greatnesse and the riches TJ^^ ^ 

 contayned therein) I must needes make some relation, in 

 regarde I have promised to speake of every place that 

 is of any value in all the Indies. This river is one of the 

 greatest in the world, and was first found when as the 

 Spaniardes sought out the other coast: but none can 

 passe up this river because of the greatnesse of the current 

 which commeth downe. as also there are many shelves of 

 sand lying in the mouth thereof: wherby it was long [III. 784.] 

 before the riches in and about this river were knowen, 

 untill such time as the kingdome of Peru was conquered : 

 at which time a Captaine called Gonsalo Pizarro passing Gonsdo 

 thorough the countrey of Peru came at length into a P^^^^'^'^- 

 lande which they named La Canela, because there groweth La Canela. 

 great store of Sinamome, but not altogether so good as 

 that which commeth from the East Indies. The sayd 

 Captaine proceeding farther into the countrey came at 

 length to a mightie river, where he sawe the countrey The great 

 people rowing in their Canoas, and bringing golde to ?5'^' '^■^ 

 buy and sell with the Spaniards. Captaine Pizarro seeing Qreiiana. 

 this, was desirous to finde out the ende of this river, 

 but he could not travell by lande because of the high 

 mountaines : wherefore he made a small Barke or Pin- 

 nesse to goe and discover from whence the saide Indians 

 brought their golde, and sent in the saide Pinnesse a 

 Captaine under him called Orellana, who with fiftie Orellana sent 

 men went downe the river, but could not returne to ^f^^^^ ^-^f^ 

 their Generall Pizarro, because of the great current ^Unonzvlth' 

 which was very strong against them, forcing them to fiftu men. 

 passe along the river, and to enter into the Sea, and so 

 they sayled on forwarde to the foresaide He of Margarita : 

 but as they passed downe this river they found it well 

 inhabited with Indians, which were possessed of great 

 store of golde. These men with their Pinnesse were 

 passing downe this river eight monethes, for the river 

 lyeth very crooked, which maketh a long way by water, 

 neither durst the Spaniardes ever lande, because they sawe 



XI 241 Q 



