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yielding for reason that this Indian of ours had brought a strange nation
into their territory to spoil and destroy them。 But the pilot being quick and
of a disposed body； slipt their fingers and ran into the woods； and his
brother； being the better footman of the two； recovered the creek's mouth；
where we stayed in our barge； crying out that his brother was slain。 With
that we set hands on one of them that was next us； a very old man； and
brought him into the barge； assuring him that if we had not our pilot again
we would presently cut off his head。 This old man； being resolved that he
should pay the loss of the other； cried out to those in the woods to save
Ferdinando； our pilot； but they followed him notwithstanding； and hunted
after him upon the foot with their deer…dogs； and with so main a cry that
all the woods echoed with the shout they made。 But at the last this poor
chased Indian recovered the river side and got upon a tree； and； as we were
coasting； leaped down and swam to the barge half dead with fear。 But our
good hap was that we kept the other old Indian； which we handfasted to
redeem our pilot withal； for； being natural of those rivers； we assured
ourselves that he knew the way better than any stranger could。 And； indeed；
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but for this chance； I think we had never found the way either to Guiana or
back to our ships； for Ferdinando after a few days knew nothing at all； nor
which way to turn； yea； and many times the old man himself was in great
doubt which river to take。 Those people which dwell in these broken
islands and drowned lands are generally called Tivitivas。 There are of
them two sorts； the one called Ciawani； and the other Waraweete。
The great river of Orenoque or Baraquan hath nine branches which fall
out on the north side of his own main mouth。 On the south side it hath
seven other fallings into the sea； so it disemboqueth by sixteen arms in all；
between islands and broken ground； but the islands are very great； many
of them as big as the Isle of Wight； and bigger； and many less。 From the
first branch on the north to the last of the south it is at least 100 leagues； so
as the river's mouth is 300 miles wide at his entrance into the sea； which I
take to be far bigger than that of Amazons。 All those that inhabit in the
mouth of this river upon the several north branches are these Tivitivas； of
which there are two chief lords which have continual wars one with the
other。 The islands which lie on the right hand are called Pallamos； and the
land on the left； Hororotomaka； and the river by which John Douglas
returned within the land from Amana to Capuri they call Macuri。
These Tivitivas are a very goodly people and very valiant； and have
the most manly speech and most deliberate that ever I heard of what
nation soever。 In the summer they have houses on the ground； as in other
places； in the winter they dwell upon the trees； where they build very
artificial towns and villages； as it is written in the Spanish story of the
West Indies that those people do in the low lands near the gulf of Uraba。
For between May and September the river of Orenoque riseth thirty foot
upright； and then are those islands overflown twenty foot high above the
level of the ground； saving some few raised grounds in the middle of them；
and for this cause they are enforced to live in this manner。 They never eat
of anything that is set or sown； and as at home they use neither planting
nor other manurance； so when they come abroad they refuse to feed of
aught but of that which nature without labour bringeth forth。 They use the
tops of palmitos for bread； and kill deer； fish； and porks for the rest of their
sustenance。 They have also many sorts of fruits that grow in the woods；
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and great variety of birds and fowls； and if to speak of them were not
tedious and vulgar； surely we saw in those passages of very rare colours
and forms not elsewhere to be found； for as much as I have either seen or
read。
Of these people those that dwell upon the branches of Orenoque；
called Capuri； and Macureo； are for the most part carpenters of canoas； for
they make the most and fairest canoas； and sell them into Guiana for gold
and into Trinidad for tabacco； in the excessive taking whereof they exceed
all nations。 And notwithstanding the moistness of the air in which they live；
the hardness of their diet； and the great labours they suffer to hunt； fish；
and fowl for their living； in all my life； either in the Indies or in Europe；
did I never behold a more goodly or better…favoured people or a more
manly。 They were wont to make war upon all nations； and especially on
the Cannibals； so as none durst without a good strength trade by those
rivers； but of late they are at peace with their neighbours； all holding the
Spaniards for a common enemy。 When their commanders die they use
great lamentation； and when they think the flesh of their bodies is putrified
and fallen from their bones； then they take up the carcase again and hang it
in the cacique's house that died； and deck his skull with feathers of all
colours； and hang all his gold plates about the bones of this arms； thighs；
and legs。 Those nations which are called Arwacas； which dwell on the
south of Orenoque； of which place and nation our Indian pilot was； are
dispersed in many other places； and do use to beat the bones of their lords
into powder； and their wives and friends drink it all in their several sorts of
drinks。
After we departed from the port of these Ciawani we passed up the
river with the flood and anchored the ebb； and in this sort we went onward。
The third day that we entered the river； our galley came on ground； and
stuck so fast as we thought that even there our discovery had ended； and
that we must have left four…score and ten of our men to have inhabited；
like rooks upon trees； with those nations。 But the next morning； after we
had cast out all her ballast； with tugging and hauling to and fro we got her
afloat and went on。 At four days' end we fell into as goodly a river as ever
I beheld； which was called the great Amana； which ran more directly
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without windings and turnings than the other。 But soon after the flood of
the sea left us； and； being enforced either by main strength to row against
a violent current； or to return as wise as we went out； we had then no shift
but to persuade the companies that it was but two or three days' work； and
therefore desired them to take pains； every gentleman and others taking
their turns to row； and to spell one the other at the hour's end。 Every day
we passed by goodly branches of rivers； some falling from the west； others
from the east； into Amana； but those I leave to the description in the chart
of discovery； where every one shall be named with his rising and descent。
When three days more were overgone； our companies began to despair；
the weather being extreme hot； the river bordered with very high trees that
kept away the air； and the current against us every day stronger than other。
But we evermore commanded our pilots to promise an end the next day；
and used it so long as we were driven to assure them from four reaches of
the river to three； and so to two； and so to the next reach。 But so long we
laboured that many days were spent； and we driven to draw ourselves to
harder allowance； our bread even at the last； and no drink at all； and our
men and ourselves so wearied and scorched； and doubtful withal whether
we should ever perform it or no； the heat increasing as we drew towards
the line； for we were now in five degrees。
The further we went on； our victual decreasing and the air breeding
great faintness； we grew weaker and weaker； when we had most need of
strength and ability。 For hourly the river ran more violently than other
against us； and the barge； wherries； and ship's boat of Captain Gifford and
Captain Cau