Since this Grave Maurice built a second Bridge cross the River Capivaribi, which joyn’d Antonio Vaez to the Main Continent. This Bridge being eighty six Rods long of durable Timber, was finish’d in seven Weeks.
His Pleasure-house Bonavista.
Moreover Grave Maurice built a pleasant Banquetting-house, call’d Bonavista, at his own Charge before the said Bridge, from whence he could see the Palace Freyburgh, Olinda, the Fort Ernestus, Maurice-stadt, Reciffa, the French Church, the Ships in the Harbors, and also the Castle Frederick Henrick. This Banquetting-house hath at each corner a Turret, and in the middle thereof a spacious Room, crown’d with a fair Terrace.
CHAP. VIII.
Guiana.
Situation and Description of Guiana.
Northward of Brasile, over against Maragnan, the Countrey of Guiana, not improbably suppos’d to be so call’d from the River Wia, one of the principal Rivers of the Province, which yet is said to have more and fairer than any other part of America besides: It is by some call’d The Wild Coast, for what reason is uncertain, it being found to be a very fruitful and pleasant Countrey: It is Bounded on the East with the Atlantick Ocean, or Mare del Nordt; on the West, with some undiscover’d mountainous Countreys, which lie on that side of the Andes, on the North it hath the great River Orenoque; and on the South that of the Amazons, or Orellana; which last Name, as we have said before, it derives from Francisco Orellana, who is said to have first discover’d it in the Year 1543. It was anciently call’d Tobo, Topoi, and Tapera.
This Countrey lieth on both sides of the Æquator, extended from the fourth Degree of Southern Latitude, to the eighth Degree of Northern, yet enjoyeth a temperate and good Air, not oppressed with any excessive Heat; which is chiefly attributed to the Breezes or Easterly Winds, almost perpetually about Noon blowing upon it. Towards the Sea-side it is for the most part a flat and level Countrey, in the more Inland parts mountainous and swell’d with Hills, but in all it is generally of such a rich and fertile Soil, that for Fruits, or any outward Commodities of the Earth, it yields not to any other Province of the New World, but rather far excelleth the most, having as it were a continual Summer, without Winter or Autumn, the Trees never uncloth’d or made bare, Fruits always ripe, or growing to maturity, the Meadows and Pastures always verdant and green, and, as we said, so excellently well water’d with Rivers, that no Countrey in the World seems comparable to it in this respect. But since the several Occurrences of Orellana’s Expedition will give much light to the more particular knowledge of these Parts, we thought good to insert this following Relation thereof.