44 ' VOYAGES of Book L 
and therefore that Day he returned to Porto Belloy ten 
Leagues Weftward, and, continuing his Courfe the next 
Day, Vas retarded by a Weft Wind, which was oppo- 
fite to his nev/ Defign, but favourable to that he had for 
three Months paft : But he believing this Wind would 
not laft long did not alter his Courfe, but bore up againft 
the Wind for fome Days, becaufe the Weather was un- 
fettled j and when the Weather feemed a little favour- 
able to go to Veragua^ another Wind ftarted up and 
drove him towards Porto Bello *, and when they v/ere in 
hopes to get into Fort, they were quite beat off again. This 
perplexed them, and made them almoft defpair, feeing 
they could not get half an Hour’s Reft, being continu- 
ally wet, turning fometimes one way and fometimes an- 
other, ftruggling againft all the Elements. Now it ap- 
peared that the Currents on that Coaft followed theWind, 
running Weft ward with a Weft, and with the Eaft Wind 
the contrary, the Water ftill coming with the prevailing 
Wind. 
The Ships being now almoft broke to Pieces with the 
Tempeft, and the Men quite fpent with Labour,, a Day 
or two’s Calm gave them fome Refpite, and brought 
fuch Multitudes of Sharks about the Ships, that they 
were dreadful to behold, efpecially for fuch as were fu- 
perftitiousj becaufe it is reported, that as Ravens at a 
great Diftance fmell out dead Bodies, fo fome think thefe 
Sharks likewife do; which, if they lay hold of a Man’s 
Arm, or Leg, cut it off like a Razor. Such a Multi- 
tude of thofe were killed with the Hook and Chain, that, 
being able to deftroy no more, they lay fwimming upon 
the Water; and fo greedy they are, that they do not 
only bite at Carrion, but may be taken with a red Rag 
upon the Hook. 
Upon the 17th the Admiral put into Port, three 
Leaguei Eaft of Pemon^ which the Indians call Huiva : 
It was like a great Bay ; where going afhore they faw 
the Inhabitants, whofe Cots were upon the Tops of 
Trees like Birds, they laying Sticks acrofs from Bough 
to Bough, and building Huts upon them. In the Be- 
ginning of January they eaft anchor near a River which 
the Indians call Tebruy and the Admiral Belem or Beth- 
iemy becaufe they came to this Place upon the Feaft of 
the Three Kings. Fie caufed the Mouth of that River, 
and another Weft ward, to be founded ; the latter the 
Indians called Veraguay where he found but Ihole Wa- 
ter, and in that of Belem four Fathom at high Water. 
The Boats went up this River to the Town where they 
were informed the Gold Mines of Veragua were. At 
firft the Indians were fo far from converfmg, that they 
endeavoured with their Weapons to hinder theChriftians 
from landing. 
The next Day their Boats going to the River of Vera- 
gudy the Indians there did as the others had done, and 
not only afliore but on their Canoes in the Water. But 
an Indian of that Coaft who underftood them a little go- 
ing afhore with the Chriftians, and telling them they 
were good People, and defired nothing but what they 
paid for, they were fomewhat pacified, and trucked 
twenty Gold-Plates, fome hollow Pieces like Joints of 
Reeds, and fome Grains which were never melted, which, 
to make their Value the more, they faid were gathered 
a great way off upon certain Mountains, and when they 
gathered it they did not eat, nor carry Women along 
with them ; which the People of Hifpaniola faid they alfo 
pradifed, when it was firft difeovered. 
On the. qth the Admiral and the Bifcaina went up the 
River, and the Indians came prefently to truck for fuch 
things as they had, particularly Fifh, which at certain 
times of the Year come out of the Sea up thofe Rivers, 
in fuch Quantities as feem incredible to thofe who do 
not fee it ; and they exchanged fome little things for 
Pins, and things they moft valued they gave for Beads 
or Hawks-Bells. Next Day the other two Ships came 
in, which they had not done at firft, becaufe there being 
but little Water at the Mouth of the River, they were 
forced to ftay for the Flood, though there the Sea ne- 
ver rifes or falls above half a Fathom. Veragua being 
celebrated for Mines, the third Day after their Arrival 
the Admiral’s, Brother went up the River with the Boats 
to. the Town of ^ihio the Indian King, who, hearing of 
the Lieutenant, came in his Canoe to meet him ; they 
met in a very friendly Manner, giving one another 
fuch things as they valued moft ; and, having difeourfed 
a long time together, went av/ay peaceably : Next Day 
^ibio came aboard to vifit the Admiral, and, having 
difeourfed together about an Hour, the Admiral gave 
him fome things, and his Men trucked Bells for fome 
Gold ; and fo he returned without any Ceremony. Be- 
ing thus very eafy and fecure, on the 24th the River 
of Belem fuddenly fwelied fo high, that before they could 
provide againft it, or carry a Cable afhore, the Fury of the 
Waves came fo impetuoufly againft the Admiral’s Ship^ 
that it broke one of her Anchors, and drove her with 
fuch Force againft the Ship Gallegay which lay aftern of 
it, that it brought the Foremaft the Board, and both 
v/ere carried away foul of one another, in the utmoft 
Danger of perifhing. Some judged the mighty Rains 
to have been the Caufe of this Flood, they having never 
ceafed during the Winter in that Country ; but had that 
been it, the River would have fwelied by degrees, and 
not all of a fudden ; which made it probable fome great 
Snows had fallen on the Mountains of Veraguay which 
the Admiral called St. ChriJtopherSy iDecaufe the higheft of 
them was above the Region of the Air where Meteors are 
bred ; for no Cloud was'ever feen above, but all below it. 
This Tempeft lafted fo long, that they had time 
enough to refit and caulk the Ships. The Waves broke 
fo furioufly upon the Mouth of the River, that the Boats 
could not go out to difeover along the Coaft, to learn, 
where the Mines lay, and chufe a Place where to build a 
Town, the Admiral having refolved to leave his Brother 
there with moft of the Men, that they might fettle, and 
fubdue the Country, while he went to Spain for Supplies 
of Men and Provifions. Upon this Profpeft, the Wea- 
ther growing calmer, on the 6th of February he.fent his 
Brother with fixty-eight Men by Sea to the Mouth of 
Veraguay a League diftant from Belem Weft ward ; and 
he went a League and a half up the River to the Ca- 
zique’s Town, where he ftaid a Day enquiring the way 
to the Mines. They travelled four Leagues and a half^ 
and came near a River, which they paffed forty-four 
times, and the next Day advanced a League and a half 
towards the Mines fhewed them by the Indians fent by 
f^iibio to guide them. In two Hour’s time after they 
came thither every Man gathered fome Gold about the 
Roots of Trees, which were there very thick, and of a 
prodigious heighth. This Sample was much valued^ 
becaufe none of thofe who went had any Tools to dig, 
or had before ever gathered any. Therefore the Deftgn 
of their Journey being only to get Information of the 
Mines, they returned very well pleafed that fame Day 
to Veraguay and the next to the Ships. True it is, that 
as was afterwards known, thefe Mines were not thofe of 
Veraguay which lay much nearer, but of Uriray a Town 
whofe People were Enemies to thofe of Veragua ; to do 
whom a Difpleafure, ^ibio ordered the Chriftians to be 
conduced thither, that they might go away to thofe, and 
leave his. 
8. On the 14th of February^ 1503, the Admiral’s 
Brother went into the Country with forty Men, a Boat 
following with fourteen. The next Day they came to 
the River of Uriray feven Leagues from Belem Weft- 
ward ; the Cazique came out a League from his Town 
to meet him with twenty Men, and prefented him with 
fuch things as they fed on, and fome Gold-Plates.. 
Whilft they were here the Cazique and chief Men never 
ceafed putting a dry Leaf into their Mouths and chew- 
ing it ; and fometimes they took a fort of Powder they 
carried with that Flerb, which looked very odd. Having, 
refted here a while, the Chriftians and Indians went to 
the Town, where abundance of People came out to 
them, and provided them a Houfe to lye in, giving, 
them much to eat: Soon after came the Cazique of 
Dururiy which is a neighbouring Town, and with him 
a great many Indians who brought fome Gold-Plates to. 
baiter. All thefe Indians faid there were Caziques up 
the Country who had plenty of Gold, and abundance of 
Men armed like the Spaniards. 
Next Day the Lieutenant ordered the reft of his Men 
to return by Land to the Ships, and he, with thirty, held 
oil 
