按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
… Page 53…
THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
are called Aroras； and are as black as negroes； but have smooth hair； and
these are very valiant； or rather desperate； people； and have the most
strong poison on their arrows； and most dangerous； of all nations； of which
I will speak somewhat； being a digression not unnecessary。
There was nothing whereof I was more curious than to find out the
true remedies of these poisoned arrows。 For besides the mortality of the
wound they make； the party shot endureth the most insufferable torment in
the world； and abideth a most ugly and lamentable death； sometimes dying
stark mad； sometimes their bowels breaking out of their bellies； which are
presently discoloured as black as pitch； and so unsavory as no man can
endure to cure or to attend them。 And it is more strange to know that in all
this time there was never Spaniard； either by gift or torment； that could
attain to the true knowledge of the cure； although they have martyred and
put to invented torture I know not how many of them。 But everyone of
these Indians know it not； no； not one among thousands； but their
soothsayers and priests； who do conceal it； and only teach it but from the
father to the son。
Those medicines which are vulgar； and serve for the ordinary poison；
are made of the juice of a root called tupara； the same also quencheth
marvellously the heat of burning fevers； and healeth inward wounds and
broken veins that bleed within the body。 But I was more beholding to the
Guianians than any other； for Antonio de Berreo told me that he could
never attain to the knowledge thereof； and yet they taught me the best way
of healing as well thereof as of all other poisons。 Some of the Spaniards
have been cured in ordinary wounds of the common poisoned arrows with
the juice of garlic。 But this is a general rule for all men that shall hereafter
travel the Indies where poisoned arrows are used； that they must abstain
from drink。 For if they take any liquor into their body； as they shall be
marvellously provoked thereunto by drought； I say； if they drink before the
wound be dressed； or soon upon it； there is no way with them but present
death。
And so I will return again to our journey； which for this third day we
finished； and cast anchor again near the continent on the left hand between
two mountains； the one called Aroami and the other Aio。 I made no stay
53
… Page 54…
THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
here but till midnight； for I feared hourly lest any rain should fall； and then
it had been impossible to have gone any further up； notwithstanding that
there is every day a very strong breeze and easterly wind。 I deferred the
search of the country on Guiana side till my return down the river。
The next day we sailed by a great island in the middle of the river；
called Manoripano； and； as we walked awhile on the island； while the
galley got ahead of us； there came for us from the main a small canoa with
seven or eight Guianians； to invite us to anchor at their port； but I deferred
till my return。 It was that cacique to whom those Nepoios went； which
came with us from the town of Toparimaca。 And so the fifth day we
reached as high up as the province of Aromaia； the country of Morequito；
whom Berreo executed； and anchored to the west of an island called
Murrecotima； ten miles long and five broad。 And that night the cacique
Aramiary； to whose town we made our long and hungry voyage out of the
river of Amana； passed by us。
The next day we arrived at the port of Morequito； and anchored there；
sending away one of our pilots to seek the king of Aromaia； uncle to
Morequito； slain by Berreo as aforesaid。 The next day following； before
noon； he came to us on foot from his house； which was fourteen English
miles； himself being a hundred and ten years old； and returned on foot the
same day； and with him many of the borderers； with many women and
children； that came to wonder at our nation and to bring us down victual；
which they did in great plenty； as venison； pork； hens； chickens； fowl； fish；
with divers sorts of excellent fruits and roots； and great abundance of
pinas； the princess of fruits that grow under the sun； especially those of
Guiana。 They brought us； also； store of bread and of their wine； and a sort
of paraquitos no bigger than wrens； and of all other sorts both small and
great。 One of them gave me a beast called by the Spaniards armadillo；
which they call cassacam； which seemeth to be all barred over with small
plates somewhat like to a rhinoceros； with a white horn growing in his
hinder parts as big as a great hunting…horn； which they use to wind instead
of a trumpet。 Monardus （Monardes； Historia Medicinal） writeth that a little
of the powder of that horn put into the ear cureth deafness。
After this old king had rested awhile in a little tent that I caused to be
54
… Page 55…
THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
set up； I began by my interpreter to discourse with him of the death of
Morequito his predecessor； and afterward of the Spaniards； and ere I went
any farther I made him know the cause of my coming thither； whose
servant I was； and that the Queen's pleasure was I should undertake the
voyage for their defence； and to deliver them from the tyranny of the
Spaniards； dilating at large； as I had done before to those of Trinidad； her
Majesty's greatness； her justice； her charity to all oppressed nations； with
as many of the rest of her beauties and virtues as either I could express or
they conceive。 All which being with great admiration attentively heard and
marvellously admired； I began to sound the old man as touching Guiana
and the state thereof； what sort of commonwealth it was； how governed； of
what strength and policy； how far it extended； and what nations were
friends or enemies adjoining； and finally of the distance； and way to enter
the same。 He told me that himself and his people； with all those down the
river towards the sea； as far as Emeria； the province of Carapana； were of
Guiana； but that they called themselves Orenoqueponi； and that all the
nations between the river and those mountains in sight； called Wacarima；
were of the same cast and appellation； and that on the other side of those
mountains of Wacarima there was a large plain （which after I discovered
in my return） called the valley of Amariocapana。 In all that valley the
people were also of the ancient Guianians。
I asked what nations those were which inhabited on the further side of
those mountains； beyond the valley of Amariocapana。 He answered with a
great sigh （as a man which had inward feeling of the loss of his country
and liberty； especially for that his eldest son was slain in a battle on that
side of the mountains； whom he most entirely loved） that he remembered
in his father's lifetime； when he was very old and himself a young man；
that there came down into that large valley of Guiana a nation from so far
off as the sun slept （for such were his own words）； with so great a
multitude as they could not be numbered nor resisted； and that they wore
large coats； and hats of crimson colour； which colour he expressed by
shewing a piece of red wood wherewith my tent was supported； and that
they were called Orejones and Epuremei； that those had slain and rooted
out so many of the ancient people as there were leaves in the wood upon
55
… Page 56…
THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
all the trees； and had now made themselves lords of all； even to that
mountain foot called Curaa； saving only of two nations； the one called
Iwarawaqueri and the other Cassipagotos； and that in the last battle fought
between the Epuremei and the Iwarawaqueri his eldest son was chosen to
carry to the aid of the Iwarawaqueri a great troop of the Orenoqueponi；
and was