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called Tucaris； Chochi； Apotomios； Cumanagotos； and all those other
nations inhabiting near about the mountains that run from Paria through
the province of Venezuela； and in Maracapana； and the cannibals of
Guanipa； the Indians called Assawai； Coaca； Ajai； and the rest （all which
shall be described in my description as they are situate） have plates of gold
of Guiana。 And upon the river of Amazons； Thevet writeth that the people
wear croissants of gold； for of that form the Guianians most commonly
make them； so as from Dominica to Amazons； which is above 250 leagues；
all the chief Indians in all parts wear of those plates of Guiana。
Undoubtedly those that trade Amazons return much gold； which （as is
aforesaid） cometh by trade from Guiana； by some branch of a river that
falleth from the country into Amazons； and either it is by the river which
passeth by the nations called Tisnados； or by Caripuna。
I made enquiry amongst the most ancient and best travelled of the
Orenoqueponi； and I had knowledge of all the rivers between Orenoque
and Amazons； and was very desirous to understand the truth of those
warlike women； because of some it is believed； of others not。 And though I
digress from my purpose； yet I will set down that which hath been
delivered me for truth of those women； and I spake with a cacique； or lord
of people； that told me he had been in the river； and beyond it also。 The
nations of these women are on the south side of the river in the provinces
of Topago； and their chiefest strengths and retracts are in the islands
situate on the south side of the entrance； some 60 leagues within the mouth
of the said river。 The memories of the like women are very ancient as well
in Africa as in Asia。 In Africa those that had Medusa for queen； others in
Scythia； near the rivers of Tanais and Thermodon。 We find； also； that
Lampedo and Marthesia were queens of the Amazons。 In many histories
they are verified to have been； and in divers ages and provinces； but they
which are not far from Guiana do accompany with men but once in a year；
and for the time of one month； which I gather by their relation； to be in
April； and that time all kings of the borders assemble； and queens of the
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Amazons； and after the queens have chosen； the rest cast lots for their
valentines。 This one month they feast； dance； and drink of their wines in
abundance； and the moon being done they all depart to their own
provinces。 They are said to be very cruel and bloodthirsty； especially to
such as offer to invade their territories。 These Amazons have likewise
great store of these plates of gold； which they recover by exchange chiefly
for a kind of green stones； which the Spaniards call piedras hijadas； and
we use for spleen…stones （stones reduced to powder and taken internally to
cure maladies of the spleen）； and for the disease of the stone we also
esteem them。 Of these I saw divers in Guiana； and commonly every king
or cacique hath one； which their wives for the most part wear； and they
esteem them as great jewels。
But to return to the enterprise of Berreo； who； as I have said； departed
from Nuevo Reyno with 700 horse； besides the provisions above rehearsed。
He descended by the river called Cassanar； which riseth in Nuevo Reyno
out of the mountains by the city of Tunja； from which mountain also
springeth Pato； both which fall into the great river of Meta； and Meta
riseth from a mountain joining to Pamplona； in the same Nuevo Reyno de
Granada。 These； as also Guaiare； which issueth out of the mountains by
Timana； fall all into Baraquan； and are but of his heads； for at their coming
together they lose their names； and Baraquan farther down is also
rebaptized by the name of Orenoque。 On the other side of the city and hills
of Timana riseth Rio Grande； which falleth into the sea by Santa Marta。
By Cassanar first； and so into Meta； Berreo passed； keeping his horsemen
on the banks； where the country served them for to march； and where
otherwise； he was driven to embark them in boats which he builded for the
purpose； and so came with the current down the river of Meta； and so into
Baraquan。 After he entered that great and mighty river； he began daily to
lose of his companies both men and horse； for it is in many places
violently swift； and hath forcible eddies； many sands； and divers islands
sharp pointed with rocks。 But after one whole year； journeying for the
most part by river； and the rest by land； he grew daily to fewer numbers；
from both by sickness； and by encountering with the people of those
regions through which he travelled； his companies were much wasted；
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especially by divers encounters with the Amapaians （Amapaia was
Berrio's name for the Orinoco valley above the Caura river）。 And in all
this time he never could learn of any passage into Guiana； nor any news or
fame thereof； until he came to a further border of the said Amapaia； eight
days' journey from the river Caroli （the Caroni river； the first great affluent
of the Orinoco on the south； about 180 miles from the sea）； which was the
furthest river that he entered。 Among those of Amapaia； Guiana was
famous； but few of these people accosted Berreo； or would trade with him
the first three months of the six which he sojourned there。 This Amapaia is
also marvellous rich in gold； as both Berreo confessed and those of Guiana
with whom I had most conference； and is situate upon Orenoque also。 In
this country Berreo lost sixty of his best soldiers； and most of all his horse
that remained in his former year's travel。 But in the end； after divers
encounters with those nations； they grew to peace； and they presented
Berreo with ten images of fine gold among divers other plates and
croissants； which； as he sware to me； and divers other gentlemen； were so
curiously wrought； as he had not seen the like either in Italy； Spain； or the
Low Countries； and he was resolved that when they came to the hands of
the Spanish king； to whom he had sent them by his camp…master； they
would appear very admirable； especially being wrought by such a nation
as had no iron instruments at all； nor any of those helps which our
goldsmiths have to work withal。 The particular name of the people in
Amapaia which gave him these pieces； are called Anebas； and the river of
Orenoque at that place is about twelve English miles broad； which may be
from his outfall into the sea 700 or 800 miles。
This province of Amapaia is a very low and a marish ground near the
river； and by reason of the red water which issueth out in small branches
through the fenny and boggy ground； there breed divers poisonful worms
and serpents。 And the Spaniards not suspecting； nor in any sort
foreknowing the danger； were infected with a grievous kind of flux by
drinking thereof； and even the very horses poisoned therewith； insomuch
as at the end of the six months that they abode there； of all their troops
there were not left above 120 soldiers； and neither horse nor cattle。 For
Berreo hoped to have found Guiana be 1；000 miles nearer than it fell out
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to be in the end； by means whereof they sustained much want； and much
hunger； oppressed with grievous diseases； and all the miseries that could
be imagined。 I demanded of those in Guiana that had travelled Amapaia；
how they lived with that tawny or red water when they travelled thither；
and they told me that after the sun was near the middle of the sky； they
used to fill their pots and pitchers with that water； but either before that
time or towards the setting of the sun it was dangerous to drink of； and in
th