ADVENTURES IN THE GOLDEN LAND. 7 



more commanded our pilots to promise to end the next day, and used it so long as we 

 were driven to assure them from four reaches of the river to three, and so to two, and so 

 to the next reach ; but so long- we laboured that many days were spent, and we driven to 

 draw ourselves to harder allowance, our bread even at the last and no drink at all ; and 

 ourselves so wearied and scorched, and doubtful withal whether we should ever perform it 

 or no, the heat increasing as we drew towards the line, for we were now in five degrees. 

 The farther we went on (our victuals decreasing and the air breeding great faintness) we 

 grew weaker and weaker, when we had most need of strength and ability, for hourly 

 the river ran more violently than other against us; and the barge, wherries, and ship's 

 boat had spent all their provisions, so as we were brought into despair and discomfort, 

 had we not persuaded all the company that it was but one day's work more to attain the 

 land, where we should be relieved of all we wanted ; and if we returned that we should be 

 sure to starve by the way, and that the world would also laugh us to scorn." The old 

 Indian now offered to take them to a town at a short distance, where they could get bread, 

 hams, fish, and wine, but to reach it they must leave the galley, and proceed up a smaller 

 stream with the barge and wherries. Raleigh, with two of his captains and sixteen 

 musketeers started, but when, after hard rowing, it grew night, and there were no signs 

 of the place, they feared treachery. The old native still assured them that it was but a little 

 further, and they rowed on past reach after reach, and still no town or settlement could be 

 discovered. At last they decided to hang the pilot, and Raleigh states distinctly that "if 

 we had well known the way back again by night, he had surely gone, but our own necessities 

 pleaded sufficiently for his safety, for it was now as dark as pitch, and the river began so 

 to narrow itself, and the trees to hang from side, so as we were driven with arming swords 

 to cut a passage through those branches that covered the water." At last, an hour after 

 midnight, a light was seen, and the welcome noise of the village dogs heard, as they rowed 

 towards it. There were few natives there at the time, but some quantity of provisions 

 was obtained, with which they returned to the galley next day. The natives called this 

 stream the river of alligators, and a negro, who was one of the galley's crew, venturing to 

 swim in it, was devoured by one of those animals. Raleigh says of the country through 

 which it passed, " whereas all that we had seen before was nothing but woods, prickly bushes, 

 and thorns, here we beheld plains of twenty miles in length, the grass short and green, 

 and in divers parts groves of trees by themselves, as if they had with all the art and 

 labour in the world been so made of purpose; and still as we rowed, the deer came down 

 feeding by the water's side, as if they had been used to a keeper's call." 



Still proceeding up the great river, their provisions almost exhausted, they observed 

 four canoes coming down the stream, to which they gave chase. The people in two of 

 the larger escaped into the woods, and left behind a large stock of bread, which was very 

 welcome. Searching the woods, Raleigh came across an Indian basket, which proved to 

 be that of a refiner, as it contained quicksilver, saltpetre, and other things for gathering 

 and testing metals, and also the dust of such as he had discovered. Raleigh offered 500 

 to the soldier who should take one of three Spaniards known to have been with this party, 

 but they escaped. He was more fortunate with the Indians who had accompanied them, 

 and one of them was taken for pilot, from whom he learned that the richest mines were 



