48 A NATURALIST IN THE GUIANAS 



' Thus quickly had the tables been turned upon the 

 assaulting Spaniards. But the remnant, though in dis- 

 order, were not wholly disorganised. Garcia de Aguilar, 

 who had succeeded Palomeque in the command, dis- 

 played very soldierly qualities. He seems to have done 

 all that was feasible under the circumstances. One of 

 his first acts after the retreat was to send Geronimo de 

 Grados to remove the women and sick people from their 

 original place of refuge to (as it seems) an island in the 

 Orinoco, called La Ceyva or Seiba. His next act was to 

 form, from amongst the valid inhabitants of St. Thomas, 

 two small troops charged with two special duties. They 

 were to watch for opportunities of killing such English- 

 men as should leave the village in foraging parties. They 

 were to watch still more zealously for the prevention as 

 much as might be of the intercourse between the Eng- 

 lish and the natives. If any Indians could not be kept 

 away from the foreigners by terror, they were, if possible, 

 to be shot. Others on whom the Spaniards could rely 

 were made part of the force for defending the camp at 

 Seiba, and for making ambuscades, whenever opportunity 

 offered. 



' Meanwhile, all the English soldiers were assembled 

 under arms for Walter Ralegh's burial. With reversed 

 muskets, trailed pikes, and muffled drums, but with 

 banners outspread, the youth who had died so gallantly, 

 and in whose grave so many hopes were to be buried, 

 went to his rest. He was laid near the high altar in the 

 church of St. Thomas. Captain Cosmer, who had fallen 

 nearly at the same time, was laid near him. For three 

 other of their dead companions-in-arms graves were made 

 within the nave of the church.' 



We have no reliable record of the time during which 



