vermuyden's journal* 159 
from England, and thereby have lost its virtue. — • 
March 31st, the ascent began to be very labori- 
ous, and they were often forced to strip them- 
selves and drag the boats over the flats. — April 
7th, perceived the influx of a small river from the 
south, and came near a fall, which appeared so 
formidable, as to deter them from all farther pro- 
gress by water. They landed, however, and after 
travelling some time, came to a spot, which is de- 
scribed in pompous, though vague terms : The 
" exceed of gold (says he) was such, that I was 
" surprised with joy and admiration." Whether 
this was the mine described at the beginning of 
the narrative, does not very precisely appear. 
Here, however, the author is struck with the 
deepest admiration at the magnitude of his own 
achievement ; for he believes, " never any boat, 
" nor any Christian," had ascended so high. He 
did not, therefore, feel himself called upon to 
proceed farther, but immediately began his voyage 
downwards. 
Considering the nature of this journal, and the 
shape in which it appears, shrewd suspicions have 
been entertained, whether the author ever per- 
formed the voyage which he so lamely describes. 
It is remarked, that gold had never been discover- 
ed in this track by any one but himself ; that 
many of his notices have much the air of being 
borrowed from Jobson ; and that nothing can be 
