The River Arocawo, falling into the Inlet Wiapoco, disembogues also with the same between the Capes Orange and Comariboo, into the Northern Ocean.
Most of the Rivers in Guiana lie full of Isles, and cannot be Navigated far, by reason of the great Water-falls.
The Yayos.
The Yayos, who inhabit on the Banks of the fore-mention’d River, are People of a good Disposition, and go naked: they catch Fish after a strange manner; for they onely throw the strong smelling Wood Ayaw in the Water, which works so upon the Fish, that they suffer themselves to be caught with the Hand. The well-known American Root Cassavi serves them for Bread, being bak’d in round Cakes on hot Stones: of the Cakes they also make the Liquor Perrinoe, which tastes almost like stale Beer, and is prepar’d by old Women and little Children, which chew the Cassavi, and spit the same into a Pot full of Water, which having stood a while, they strain the same through a Cloth, and set it a working with Potato-Roots.
They are troubled with no Vermine, not so much as the little Fleas Niquas, by the Spaniards call’d Chigos, which creep in between the Nails.
On the Sea-Coast are many Tortoises, whose Flesh is of a delicious taste, but heavy to digest.
Sheep and Oxen will not thrive here, but Swine would thrive exceedingly, if their Dugs were not bit off in the Night by the Bats.
The River Wiapoco hath many dangerous Water-falls, the one much higher than the other; a little way beyond the first of them the Stream Army falls into Wiapoco.
The Marashewaccas.
Three days Journey Westerly dwell the Marashewaccas, whose Ears hang down on their Shoulders; they worship for their Deity, an Image representing a Man, who sitting flat on the Ground, with his Legs stretch’d out, leans with his Elbows on his Knees, and holding up his Hands, gapes and stares up towards Heaven.