SETTLEMENTS ON THE DEMERARY, &C. 351 



Almagro, and others, conquered the said empire of Peru, and 

 had put to death AtabaHpa, son to Guaynacapa, (which Ata- 

 bahpa had formerly caused his eldest brother Guascar to be 

 slain), one of the younger sons of Guaynacapa fled out of 

 Peru, and took with him many thousands of those soldiers of 

 the empire called Orciones, and with those, and many others 

 which followed him, he vanquished all that tract and valley 

 of America which is situate between the great rivers of Am- 

 azons and Baraquan, otherwise called Maranyon, and Orinoko. 



" The empire of Guiana is directly east from Peru toward 

 the sea, and lieth under the equinoctial line, and it hath more 

 abundance of gold than any part of Peru, and as many, or 

 more great cities than ever Peru had when it flourished most. 

 It is governed by the same laws, and the emperor and people 

 observe the same religion, and the same form and policies in 

 government, as was used in Peru, not differing in any part. 

 And, as I have been assured by such of the Spaniards as have 

 seen Manoa, the imperial city of Guiana, which the Spaniards 

 call El Dorado, for the greatness, the riches, and for the ex- 

 cellent seat, far exceedeth any of the world, at least of so 

 much of the world as is known to the Spanish nation. It is 

 founded upon a lake of salt water of two hundred leagues long, 

 hke unto Mare Caspium ; and if we compare it to that of 

 Peru, and but read the report of Francisco Lopez, and others, 

 it will seem more than credible. 



