THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
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his town : but our hearts were cold to behold the great rage and increase of Orinoco, and therefore departed, and turned toward the west, till we had recovered the parting of the 3 branches aforesaid, that we might put down the stream after the galley. The next day we landed on the Island of Assapana, (which divideth the river from that branch by which we went down to Emeria) and there feasted ourselves with that beast which is called Armadillo presented unto us before at Winicapora; and the day following we recovered the galley at anchor at the port of Toparimaci, and the same evening departed with very foul weather and terrible thunder, and showers, for the winter was come on very far. The best was, we went no less than 100 miles a day, down the river : but by the way we entered, it was impossible to return, for that the river of Manamo, being in the bottom of the bay of Guanipa, cannot be sailed back by any means, both the breeze and currents of the sea were so forcible, and therefore we followed a branch of Orinoco called Capuri, which entered into the sea eastward of our ships, to the end we might bear with them before the wind. And it was not without need, for we had by that way as much to cross of the main sea, after we came to the river’s mouth, as between Gravelyn and Dover, in such boats as your Honours have heard. To speak of what passed homeward were tedious, either to describe or name any of the rivers, islands, or villages of the Tivitivas which dwell on trees, we will leave all those to the general map. And to be short, when we were arrived at the sea side, then grew our greatest doubt, and the bitterest of all our journey forepassed, for I protest before God, that we were in a most