very lately made by the Spaniards, in a new land called Nuevo Dorado, which is two days' sailing to the windward of the Marguarita: there is gold in that abundance, as the like hath not been heard of. We have it for certain in letters written from thence by some that were in the discovery, unto their parents here in this city. I purpose (God willing) to bestow ten or twelve days in search of the said Dorado, as I pass in voyage towards Carthagena, hoping there to make some good sale of our commodities. I have sent you therewith part of the information of the said discovery that was sent to his majesty. Part of the copy that was sent to his majesty of the discovery of Nuevo Dorado. IN the river of Pato, otherwise called Oroonoko, in the principal part thereof called Warismero, the 23d of April 1593, Domingo de Vera, master of the camp, and general for Antonio de Berreo, governor and captain-general for our lord the king, betwixt the rivers of Pato and Papamene, alias Oroonoko, and Marannon, and of the island of Trinedado, in presence of me Rodrigo de Carança, register for the sea, commanded all the soldiers to be drawn together and put in order of battle, the captains and soldiers, and master of the camp, standing in the midst of them, said unto them; "Sirs, soldiers, and captains, you understand long "since that our general Antonio de Berreo, with the travel of "eleven years, and expense of more than one hundred thou"sand pesoes of gold, discovered the royal provinces of Gui"ana and Dorado; of the which he took possession to govern "the same, but through want of his people's health, and "necessary munition, he issued out at the island Marguarita, "and from thence peopled Trinedado. But now they have "sent me to learn out and discover the ways most easily "to enter, and to people the said provinces, and where the camps and armies may best enter the same: by reason "whereof I intend so to do in the name of his majesty, and "the said governor Antonio de Berreo; and in token there 66 "of I require you, Francisco Carillo, that you aid me to ad"vance this cross that lieth here on the ground, which they "set on end towards the east." And the said master of the camp, the captains and soldiers, kneeled down, and did due reverence unto the said cross; and thereupon the master of the camp took a bowl of water and drank it off, and took more, and threw abroad on the ground: he also drew out his sword, and cut the grass off the ground, and the boughs off the trees, saying, "I take this possession in the name of "the king Don Philip our master, and of his governor An"tonio de Berreo." And because some make question of this possession, to them I answer, That in these our actions was present the cassique, or principal, Don Antonio, otherwise called Morequito, whose land this was, who yielded consent to the said possession, was glad thereof, and gave his obedience to our lord the king, and in his name to the said governor Antonio de Berreo. And the said master of the camp kneeled down, being in his liberty, and all the captains and soldiers said, That the possession was well taken, and that they would defend it with their lives, upon whosoever would say the contrary. And the said master of the camp, having his sword drawn in his hand, said unto me; "Register, that art here present, give me an instru❝ment or testimonial to confirm me in this possession which "I have taken of this land, for the governor Antonio de "Berreo; and if it be needful, I will take it anew." And I require you all that are present to witness the same; and do further declare, that I will go on, taking the possession of all these lands wheresoever I shall enter. Signed thus: Domingo de Vera; and underneath, Before me And in prosecution of the said possession, and discovery of the way and provinces, the 27th of April of the said year, the master of the camp entered by little and little with all the camp and men of war, more than two leagues into the inland, and came to a town of a principal, and conferring with him did let him understand, by means of Antonio Bi sante the interpreter, that his majesty and Antonio de Berreo had sent him to take the said possession. And the said friar, Francisco Carillo, by the interpreter, delivered him certain things of our holy catholic faith; to all which he answered, that they understood him well, and would become Christians; and that with a very good-will they should advance the cross in what part or place of the town it pleased them, for he was for the governor Antonio de Berreo, who was his master. Thereupon the said master of the camp took a great cross, and set it on end towards the east, and requested the whole camp to witness it; and Domingo de Vera firmed it thus: "It is well and firmly done." And underneath, Before me Rodrigo Carança, register of the army. The first of May they prosecuted the said possession and discovery to the town of Carapana: from thence the said master of the camp passed to the town of Toroco, whose principal is called Topiawari, being five leagues further within the land than the first nation, and well inhabited; and to this principal, by means of the interpreter, they gave to understand, that his majesty and the said corrigidor commanded them to take the possession of that land, and that they should yield their obedience to his majesty, and to his corrigidor, and to the master of the camp in his name; and that in token thereof he would place a cross in the middle of his town. Whereunto the said cassique answered, They should advance it with a very good-will, and that he remained in the obedience of our lord the king, and of the said governor Antonio de Berreo, whose vassal he would be. The fourth of May we came to a province above five leagues thence, of all sides inhabited with much people. The principal of this people came and met us in peaceable manner; and he is called Renato: he brought us to a very large house, where he entertained us well, and gave us much gold; and the interpreter asking him from whence that gold was, he answered, From a province not passing a day's journey off, where there are so many Indians as would shadow the sun, and so much gold as all yonder plain will not contain it. In which country (when they enter into the borracheras, or their drunken feasts) they take of the said gold in dust, and anoint themselves all over therewith, to make the braver show; and to the end the gold may cover them, they anoint their bodies with stamped herbs of a glewenous substance and they have war with those Indians. They promised us that if we would go unto them, they would aid us; but they were such infinite number, as no doubt they would kill us. And being asked how they gat the same gold, they told us they went to a certain down, or plain, and pulled or digged up the grass by the root: which done, they took of the earth, putting it in great buckets, which they carried to wash at the river, and that which came in powder they kept for their borracheras, and that which was in pieces they wrought into eagles. The eighth of May we went from thence, and marched about five leagues: at the foot of a hill we found a principal, called Arataco, with three thousand Indians, men and women, all in peace, and with much victual, as hens and venison in great abundance, and many sorts of wine. He entreated us to go to his house, and to rest that night in his town, being of five hundred houses. The interpreter asked whence he had those hens: he said they were brought from a mountain not passing a quarter of a league thence, where were many Indians, yea so many as grass on the ground, and that these men have the points of their shoulders higher than the crowns of their heads, and had so many hens as was wonderful; and if we would have any, we should send them jews-harps, for they would give for every one two hens. We took an Indian, and gave him five hundred harps; the hens were so many that he brought us, as were not to be numbered. We said we would go thither; they told us they were now in their borracheras, and would kill us. We asked the Indian that brought the hens, if it were true; he said it was most true. We asked him how they made their borracheras; he said, they had many eagles of gold hanging on their breasts, and pearls in their ears, and that they danced, being all covered with gold. The Indian said unto us, if we would see them, we should give him some hatchets, and he would bring us of those eagles. The master of the camp gave him one hatchet, (he would give him no more, because they should not understand we went to seek gold;) he brought us an eagle which weighed twenty-seven pounds of good gold. The master of the camp took it, and shewed it to the soldiers, and then threw it from him, making show not to regard it. About midnight came an Indian, and said unto him, Give me a pickaxe, and I will tell thee what the Indians with the high shoulders mean to do. The interpreter told the master of the camp, who commanded one to be given him; he then told us, those Indians were coming to kill us for our merchandise. Hereupon the master of the camp caused his company to be set in order, and began to march. The eleventh day of May we went about seven leagues from thence to a province, where we found a great company of Indians apparelled: they told us that if we came to fight, they would fill up those plains with Indians to fight with us; but if we came in peace, we should enter, and be well entertained of them, because they had a great desire to see Christians and there they told us of all the riches that was. I do not here set it down, because there is no place for it, but it shall appear by the information that goeth to his majesty; for if it should here be set down, four leaves of paper would : not contain it. The letter of George Burien Britton from the said Canaries unto his cousin, a Frenchman dwelling in S. Lucas, concerning the Dorado. SIR, and my very good cousin, THERE came of late certain letters from a new discovered country not far from Trinedado, which they write hath gold in great abundance: the news seemeth to be very certain, because it passeth for good amongst the best of this |
