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Manoa； there being many very great and rich； and （as he said） built like
the towns of Christians； with many rooms。
When these ten Spaniards were returned； and ready to put out of the
border of Aromaia （the district below the Caroni river）； the people of
Morequito set upon them； and slew them all but one that swam the river；
and took from them to the value of 40；000 pesos of gold； and one of them
only lived to bring the news to Berreo； that both his nine soldiers and holy
father were benighted in the said province。 I myself spake with the
captains of Morequito that slew them； and was at the place where it was
executed。 Berreo； enraged herewithal； sent all the strength he could make
into Aromaia； to be revenged of him； his people； and country。 But
Morequito； suspecting the same； fled over Orenoque； and through the
territories of the Saima and Wikiri recovered Cumana； where he thought
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himself very safe； with Vides the governor。 But Berreo sending for him in
the king's name； and his messengers finding him in the house of one
Fajardo； on the sudden； ere he was suspected； so as he could not then be
conveyed away； Vides durst not deny him； as well to avoid the suspicion
of the practice； as also for that an holy father was slain by him and his
people。 Morequito offered Fajardo the weight of three quintals in gold； to
let him escape； but the poor Guianian； betrayed on all sides； was delivered
to the camp…master of Berreo； and was presently executed。
After the death of this Morequito； the soldiers of Berreo spoiled his
territory and took divers prisoners。 Among others they took the uncle of
Morequito； called Topiawari； who is now king of Aromaia； whose son I
brought with me into England； and is a man of great understanding and
policy； he is above an hundred years old； and yet is of a very able body。
The Spaniards led him in a chain seventeen days； and made him their
guide from place to place between his country and Emeria； the province of
Carapana aforesaid； and he was at last redeemed for an hundred plates of
gold； and divers stones called piedras hijadas； or spleen…stones。 Now
Berreo for executing of Morequito； and other cruelties； spoils； and
slaughters done in Aromaia； hath lost the love of the Orenoqueponi； and of
all the borderers； and dare not send any of his soldiers any further into the
land than to Carapana； which he called the port of Guiana； but from thence
by the help of Carapana he had trade further into the country； and always
appointed ten Spaniards to reside in Carapana's town （the Spanish
settlement of Santo Tome de la Guyana； founded by Berrio in 1591 or
1592； but represented by Raleigh as an Indian pueblo）； by whose favour；
and by being conducted by his people； those ten searched the country
thereabouts； as well for mines as for other trades and commodities。
They also have gotten a nephew of Morequito； whom they have
christened and named Don Juan； of whom they have great hope；
endeavouring by all means to establish him in the said province。 Among
many other trades； those Spaniards used canoas to pass to the rivers of
Barema； Pawroma； and Dissequebe （Essequibo）； which are on the south
side of the mouth of Orenoque； and there buy women and children from
the cannibals； which are of that barbarous nature； as they will for three or
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four hatchets sell the sons and daughters of their own brethren and sisters；
and for somewhat more even their own daughters。 Hereof the Spaniards
make great profit； for buying a maid of twelve or thirteen years for three
or four hatchets； they sell them again at Margarita in the West Indies for
fifty and an hundred pesos； which is so many crowns。
The master of my ship； John Douglas； took one of the canoas which
came laden from thence with people to be sold； and the most of them
escaped； yet of those he brought； there was one as well favoured and as
well shaped as ever I saw any in England； and afterwards I saw many of
them； which but for their tawny colour may be compared to any in Europe。
They also trade in those rivers for bread of cassavi； of which they buy an
hundred pound weight for a knife； and sell it at Margarita for ten pesos。
They also recover great store of cotton； Brazil wood； and those beds which
they call hamacas or Brazil beds； wherein in hot countries all the
Spaniards use to lie commonly； and in no other； neither did we ourselves
while we were there。 By means of which trades； for ransom of divers of
the Guianians； and for exchange of hatchets and knives； Berreo recovered
some store of gold plates； eagles of gold； and images of men and divers
birds； and dispatched his camp…master for Spain； with all that he had
gathered； therewith to levy soldiers； and by the show thereof to draw
others to the love of the enterprise。 And having sent divers images as well
of men as beasts； birds； and fishes； so curiously wrought in gold； he
doubted not but to persuade the king to yield to him some further help；
especially for that this land hath never been sacked； the mines never
wrought； and in the Indies their works were well spent； and the gold drawn
out with great labour and charge。 He also despatched messengers to his
son in Nuevo Reyno to levy all the forces he could； and to come down the
river Orenoque to Emeria； the province of Carapana； to meet him； he had
also sent to Santiago de Leon on the coast of the Caracas； to buy horses
and mules。
After I had thus learned of his proceedings past and purposed； I told
him that I had resolved to see Guiana； and that it was the end of my
journey； and the cause of my coming to Trinidad； as it was indeed； and for
that purpose I sent Jacob Whiddon the year before to get intelligence： with
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whom Berreo himself had speech at that time； and remembered how
inquisitive Jacob Whiddon was of his proceedings； and of the country of