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winter at hand； and that the rivers beginning once to swell； it was
impossible to stem the current； and that we could not in those small boats
by any means carry victuals for half the time； and that （which indeed most
discouraged my company） the kings and lords of all the borders of Guiana
had decreed that none of them should trade with any Christians for gold；
because the same would be their own overthrow； and that for the love of
gold the Christians meant to conquer and dispossess them of all together。
Many and the most of these I found to be true； but yet I resolving to
make trial of whatsoever happened； directed Captain George Gifford； my
Vice…Admiral； to take the Lion's Whelp； and Captain Caulfield his bark； to
turn to the eastward； against the mouth of a river called Capuri； whose
entrance I had before sent Captain Whiddon and John Douglas the master
to discover。 Who found some nine foot water or better upon the flood； and
five at low water： to whom I had given instructions that they should
anchor at the edge of the shoal； and upon the best of the flood to thrust
over； which shoal John Douglas buoyed and beckoned （beaconed） for
them before。 But they laboured in vain； for neither could they turn it up
altogether so far to the east； neither did the flood continue so long； but the
water fell ere they could have passed the sands。 As we after found by a
second experience： so as now we must either give over our enterprise； or
leaving our ships at adventure 400 mile behind us； must run up in our
ship's boats； one barge； and two wherries。 But being doubtful how to carry
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victuals for so long a time in such baubles； or any strength of men；
especially for that Berreo assured us that his son must be by that time
come down with many soldiers； I sent away one King； master of the Lion's
Whelp； with his ship…boat； to try another branch of the river in the bottom
of the Bay of Guanipa； which was called Amana； to prove if there were
water to be found for either of the small ships to enter。 But when he came
to the mouth of Amana； he found it as the rest； but stayed not to discover it
thoroughly； because he was assured by an Indian； his guide； that the
cannibals of Guanipa would assail them with many canoas； and that they
shot poisoned arrows； so as if he hasted not back； they should all be lost。
In the meantime； fearing the worst； I caused all the carpenters we had
to cut down a galego boat； which we meant to cast off； and to fit her with
banks to row on； and in all things to prepare her the best they could； so as
she might be brought to draw but five foot： for so much we had on the bar
of Capuri at low water。 And doubting of King's return； I sent John Douglas
again in my long barge； as well to relieve him； as also to make a perfect
search in the bottom of the bay； for it hath been held for infallible； that
whatsoever ship or boat shall fall therein can never disemboque again； by
reason of the violent current which setteth into the said bay； as also for that
the breeze and easterly wind bloweth directly into the same。 Of which
opinion I have heard John Hampton （Captain of the Minion in the third
voyage of Hawkins）； of Plymouth； one of the greatest experience of
England； and divers other besides that have traded to Trinidad。
I sent with John Douglas an old cacique of Trinidad for a pilot； who
told us that we could not return again by the bay or gulf； but that he knew
a by…branch which ran within the land to the eastward； and he thought by
it we might fall into Capuri； and so return in four days。 John Douglas
searched those rivers； and found four goodly entrances； whereof the least
was as big as the Thames at Woolwich； but in the bay thitherward it was
shoal and but six foot water； so as we were now without hope of any ship
or bark to pass over； and therefore resolved to go on with the boats； and
the bottom of the galego； in which we thrust 60 men。 In the Lion's Whelp's
boat and wherry we carried twenty； Captain Caulfield in his wherry carried
ten more； and in my barge other ten； which made up a hundred； we had no
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other means but to carry victual for a month in the same； and also to lodge
therein as we could； and to boil and dress our meat。 Captain Gifford had
with him Master Edward Porter； Captain Eynos； and eight more in his
wherry； with all their victual； weapons； and provisions。 Captain Caulfield
had with him my cousin Butshead Gorges； and eight more。 In the galley；
of gentlemen and officers myself had Captain Thyn； my cousin John
Greenvile； my nephew John Gilbert； Captain Whiddon； Captain Keymis；
Edward Hancock； Captain Clarke； Lieutenant Hughes； Thomas Upton；
Captain Facy； Jerome Ferrar； Anthony Wells； William Connock； and above
fifty more。 We could not learn of Berreo any other way to enter but in
branches so far to windward as it was impossible for us to recover； for we
had as much sea to cross over in our wherries； as between Dover and
Calice； and in a great bollow； the wind and current being both very strong。
So as we were driven to go in those small boats directly before the wind
into the bottom of the Bay of Guanipa； and from thence to enter the mouth
of some one of those rivers which John Douglas had last discovered； and
had with us for pilot an Indian of Barema； a river to the south of Orenoque；
between that and Amazons； whose canoas we had formerly taken as he
was going from the said Barema； laden with cassavi bread to sell at
Margarita。 This Arwacan promised to bring me into the great river of
Orenoque； but indeed of that which he entered he was utterly ignorant； for
he had not seen it in twelve years before； at which time he was very young；
and of no judgment。 And if God had not sent us another help； we might
have wandered a whole year in that labyrinth of rivers； ere we had found
any way； either out or in； especially after we were past ebbing and flowing；
which was in four days。 For I know all the earth doth not yield the like
confluence of streams and branches； the one crossing the other so many
times； and all so fair and large； and so like one to another； as no man can
tell which to take： and if we went by the sun or compass； hoping thereby
to go directly one way or other； yet that way we were also carried in a
circle amongst multitudes of islands； and every island so bordered with
high trees as no man could see any further than the breadth of the river； or
length of the breach。 But this it chanced； that entering into a river （which
because it had no name； we called the River of the Red Cross； ourselves
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being the first Christians that ever came therein）； the 22。 of May； as we
were rowing up the same； we espied a small canoa with three Indians；
which by the swiftness of my barge； rowing with eight oars； I overtook ere
they could cross the river。 The rest of the people on the banks； shadowed
under the thick wood； gazed on with a doubtful conceit what might befall
those three which we had taken。 But when they perceived that we offered
them no violence； neither entered their canoa with any of ours； nor took
out of the canoa any of theirs； they then began to show themselves on the
bank's side； and offered to traffic with us for such things as they had。 And
as we drew near； they all stayed； and we came with our barge to the mouth
of a little creek which came from their town into the great river。
As we abode here awhile； our Indian pilot； called Ferdinando； would
needs go ashore to their village to fetch some fruits and to drink of their
artificial wines； and also to see the place and know the lord of it against
another time； and took with him a brother of his which he had with him in
the journey。 When they came to the village of these people the lord of the
island offered to lay hands on them； purposing to have slain them both；
yielding for reason that this Indian of ours had brought a strange nation