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Manoa； or at least taken so many of the other cities and towns nearer at
hand； as would have made a royal return。 But it pleased not God so much
to favour me at this time。 If it shall be my lot to prosecute the same； I shall
willingly spend my life therein。 And if any else shall be enabled thereunto；
and conquer the same； I assure him thus much； he shall perform more than
ever was done in Mexico by Cortes； or in Peru by Pizarro； whereof the one
conquered the empire of Mutezuma； the other of Guascar and Atabalipa。
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And whatsoever prince shall possess it； that prince shall be lord of more
gold； and of a more beautiful empire； and of more cities and people； than
either the king of Spain or the Great Turk。
But because there may arise many doubts； and how this empire of
Guiana is become so populous； and adorned with so many great cities；
towns； temples； and treasures； I thought good to make it known； that the
emperor now reigning is descended from those magnificent princes of
Peru； of whose large territories； of whose policies； conquests； edifices； and
riches； Pedro de Cieza； Francisco Lopez； and others have written large
discourses。 For when Francisco Pizarro； Diego Almagro and others
conquered the said empire of Peru； and had put to death Atabalipa； son to
Guayna Capac； which Atabalipa had formerly caused his eldest brother
Guascar to be slain； one of the younger sons of Guayna Capac fled out of
Peru； and took with him many thousands of those soldiers of the empire
called orejones （〃having large ears；〃 the name given by the Spaniards to
the Peruvian warriors； who wore ear… pendants）； and with those and many
others which followed him； he vanquished all that tract and valley of
America which is situate between the great river of Amazons and
Baraquan； otherwise called Orenoque and Maranon （Baraquan is the
alternative name to Orenoque； Maranon to Amazons）。
The empire of Guiana is directly east from Peru towards the sea； and
lieth under the equinoctial line； and it hath more abundance of gold than
any part of Peru； and as many or more great cities than ever Peru had
when it flourished most。 It is governed by the same laws； and the emperor
and people observe the same religion； and the same form and policies in
government as were used in Peru； not differing in any part。 And I have
been assured by such of the Spaniards as have seen Manoa； the imperial
city of Guiana； which the Spaniards call El Dorado； that for the greatness；
for the riches； and for the excellent seat； it far exceedeth any of the world；
at least of so much of the world as is known to the Spanish nation。 It is
founded upon a lake of salt water of 200 leagues long； like unto Mare
Caspium。 And if we compare it to that of Peru； and but read the report of
Francisco Lopez and others； it will seem more than credible； and because
we may judge of the one by the other； I thought good to insert part of the
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120。 chapter of Lopez in his General History of the Indies； wherein he
describeth the court and magnificence of Guayna Capac； ancestor to the
emperor of Guiana； whose very words are these：
〃Todo el servicio de su casa； mesa； y cocina era de oro y de plata； y
cuando menos de plata y cobre； por mas recio。 Tenia en su recamara
estatuas huecas de oro； que parescian gigantes； y las figuras al propio y
tamano de cuantos animales； aves； arboles； y yerbas produce la tierra； y de
cuantos peces cria la mar y agua de sus reynos。 Tenia asimesmo sogas；
costales； cestas； y troxes de oro y plata； rimeros de palos de oro； que
pareciesen lena rajada para quemar。 En fin no habia cosa en su tierra； que
no la tuviese de oro contrahecha； y aun dizen； que tenian los Ingas un
verjel en una isla cerca de la Puna； donde se iban a holgar； cuando querian
mar； que tenia la hortaliza； las flores； y arboles de oro y plata； invencion y
grandeza hasta entonces nunca vista。 Allende de todo esto； tenia
infinitisima cantidad de plata y oro por labrar en el Cuzco； que se perdio
por la muerte de Guascar； ca los Indios lo escondieron； viendo que los
Espanoles se lo tomaban； y enviaban a Espana。〃
That is； 〃All the vessels of his house； table； and kitchen； were of gold
and silver； and the meanest of silver and copper for strength and hardness
of metal。 He had in his wardrobe hollow statues of gold which seemed
giants； and the figures in proportion and bigness of all the beasts； birds；
trees； and herbs； that the earth bringeth forth； and of all the fishes that the
sea or waters of his kingdom breedeth。 He had also ropes； budgets； chests；
and troughs of gold and silver； heaps of billets of gold； that seemed wood
marked out （split into logs） to burn。 Finally； there was nothing in his
country whereof he had not the counterfeit in gold。 Yea； and they say； the
Ingas had a garden of pleasure in an island near Puna； where they went to
recreate themselves； when they would take the air of the sea； which had all
kinds of garden…herbs； flowers； and trees of gold and silver； an invention
and magnificence till then never seen。 Besides all this； he had an infinite
quantity of silver and gold unwrought in Cuzco； which was lost by the
death of Guascar； for the Indians hid it； seeing that the Spaniards took it；
and sent it into Spain。〃
And in the 117。 chapter； Francisco Pizarro caused the gold and silver
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of Atabalipa to be weighed after he had taken it； which Lopez setteth down
in these words following：〃Hallaron cincuenta y dos mil marcos de buena
plata； y un millon y trecientos y veinte y seis mil y quinientos pesos de
oro。〃 Which is； 〃They found 52；000 marks of good silver； and 1；326；500
pesos of gold。〃 Now； although these reports may seem strange； yet if we
consider the many millions which are daily brought out of Peru into Spain；
we may easily believe the same。 For we find that by the abundant treasure
of that country the Spanish king vexes all the princes of Europe； and is
become； in a few years； from a poor king of Castile； the greatest monarch
of this part of the world； and likely every day to increase if other princes
forslow the good occasions offered； and suffer him to add this empire to
the rest； which by far exceedeth all the rest。 If his gold now endanger us；
he will then be unresistible。 Such of the Spaniards as afterwards
endeavoured the conquest thereof； whereof there have been many； as shall
be declared hereafter； thought that this Inga； of whom this emperor now
living is descended； took his way by the river of Amazons； by that branch
which is called Papamene （The Papamene is a tributary not of the Amazon
river but of the Meta； one of the principal tributaries of the Orinoco）。 For
by that way followed Orellana； by the commandment of Gonzalo Pizarro；
in the year 1542； whose name the river also beareth this day。 Which is also
by others called Maranon； although Andrew Thevet doth affirm that
between Maranon and Amazons there are 120 leagues； but sure it is that
those rivers have one head and beginning； and the Maranon； which Thevet
describeth； is but a branch of Amazons or Orellana； of which I will speak
more in another place。 It was attempted by Ordas； but it is now little less
than 70 years since that Diego Ordas； a Knight of the Order of Santiago；
attempted the same； and it was in the year 1542 that Orellana discovered
the river of Amazons； but the first that ever saw Manoa was Juan Martinez；
master of the munition to Ordas。 At a port called Morequito （probably San
Miguel）； in Guiana； there lieth at this day a great anchor of Ordas his ship。
And this port is some 300 miles within the land； upon the great river of
Orenoque。 I rested at this port four days； twenty days after I left the ships
at Curiapan。
The relation of this Martinez； who was the first that discovered Manoa；
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