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little； till we came into the next valley； where we might better discern the
same。 I never saw a more beautiful country； nor more lively prospects；
hills so raised here and there over the valleys； the river winding into divers
branches； the plains adjoining without bush or stubble； all fair green grass；
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the ground of hard sand； easy to march on； either for horse or foot； the
deer crossing in every path； the birds towards the evening singing on every
tree with a thousand several tunes； cranes and herons of white； crimson；
and carnation； perching in the river's side； the air fresh with a gentle
easterly wind； and every stone that we stooped to take up promised either
gold or silver by his complexion。 Your Lordship shall see of many sorts；
and I hope some of them cannot be bettered under the sun； and yet we had
no means but with our daggers and fingers to tear them out here and there；
the rocks being most hard of that mineral spar aforesaid； which is like a
flint； and is altogether as hard or harder； and besides the veins lie a fathom
or two deep in the rocks。 But we wanted all things requisite save only our
desires and good will to have performed more if it had pleased God。 To be
short； when both our companies returned； each of them brought also
several sorts of stones that appeared very fair； but were such as they found
loose on the ground； and were for the most part but coloured； and had not
any gold fixed in them。 Yet such as had no judgment or experience kept all
that glistered； and would not be persuaded but it was rich because of the
lustre； and brought of those； and of marcasite withal； from Trinidad； and
have delivered of those stones to be tried in many places； and have thereby
bred an opinion that all the rest is of the same。 Yet some of these stones I
shewed afterward to a Spaniard of the Caracas； who told me that it was El
Madre del Oro； that is； the mother of gold； and that the mine was farther in
the ground。
But it shall be found a weak policy in me； either to betray myself or
my country with imaginations； neither am I so far in love with that lodging；
watching； care； peril； diseases； ill savours； bad fare； and many other
mischiefs that accompany these voyages； as to woo myself again into any
of them； were I not assured that the sun covereth not so much riches in any
part of the earth。 Captain Whiddon； and our chirurgeon； Nicholas
Millechamp； brought me a kind of stones like sapphires； what they may
prove I know not。 I shewed them to some of the Orenoqueponi； and they
promised to bring me to a mountain that had of them very large pieces
growing diamond…wise； whether it be crystal of the mountain； Bristol
diamond； or sapphire； I do not yet know； but I hope the best； sure I am that
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the place is as likely as those from whence all the rich stones are brought；
and in the same height or very near。 On the left hand of this river Caroli
are seated those nations which I called Iwarawaqueri before remembered；
which are enemies to the Epuremei； and on the head of it； adjoining to the
great lake Cassipa； are situated those other nations which also resist Inga；
and the Epuremei； called Cassipagotos； Eparegotos； and Arawagotos。 I
farther understood that this lake of Cassipa is so large； as it is above one
day's journey for one of their canoas； to cross； which may be some forty
miles； and that thereinto fall divers rivers； and that great store of grains of
gold are found in the summer time when the lake falleth by the banks； in
those branches。
There is also another goodly river beyond Caroli which is called Arui；
which also runneth through the lake Cassipa； and falleth into Orenoque
farther west； making all that land between Caroli and Arui an island；
which is likewise a most beautiful country。 Next unto Arui there are two
rivers Atoica and Caura； and on that branch which is called Caura are a
nation of people whose heads appear not above their shoulders； which
though it may be thought a mere fable； yet for mine own part I am
resolved it is true； because every child in the provinces of Aromaia and
Canuri affirm the same。 They are called Ewaipanoma； they are reported to
have their eyes in their shoulders； and their mouths in the middle of their
breasts； and that a long train of hair groweth backward between their
shoulders。 The son of Topiawari； which I brought with me into England；
told me that they were the most mighty men of all the land； and use bows；
arrows； and clubs thrice as big as any of Guiana； or of the Orenoqueponi；
and that one of the Iwarawaqueri took a prisoner of them the year before
our arrival there； and brought him into the borders of Aromaia； his father's
country。 And farther； when I seemed to doubt of it； he told me that it was
no wonder among them； but that they were as great a nation and as
common as any other in all the provinces； and had of late years slain many
hundreds of his father's people； and of other nations their neighbours。 But
it was not my chance to hear of them till I was come away； and if I had but
spoken one word of it while I was there I might have brought one of them
with me to put the matter out of doubt。 Such a nation was written of by
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Mandeville； whose reports were holden for fables many years； and yet
since the East Indies were discovered； we find his relations true of such
things as heretofore were held incredible （Mandeville； or the author who
assumed this name； placed his headless men in the East Indian
Archipelago； the fable is borrowed from older writers； Herodotus &c）。
Whether it be true or no； the matter is not great； neither can there be any
profit in the imagination； for mine own part I saw them not； but I am
resolved that so many people did not all combine or forethink to make the
report。
When I came to Cumana in the West Indies afterwards by chance I
spake with a Spaniard dwelling not far from thence； a man of great travel。
And after he knew that I had been in Guiana； and so far directly west as
Caroli； the first question he asked me was； whether I