There is also a Tree, generally growing about the Houses of the Natives, the Boughs whereof bruis’d between two Stones, and thrown into the Creeks of deep Water full of Fish, cause them to swim above Water upon their Backs.
The Letter-Wood call’d Pira timinere, turns also to a good account, much more the excellent Stones, Jasper and Porphyr.
Nor are there wanting Gold and Silver-Mines, which doubtless would yield great profit, were they open’d.
The Grain of the Countrey grows on Stalks seven Foot long, on the tops whereof hang two Ears full of Kernels as big as Pease, which ripens in four Moneths.
The Sugar-Canes, being of the bigness of a Man’s Arm, and about six Foot long, are at the years end cut off, broken and press’d in a Mill; after which the Juice boyl’d in Copper Kettles to a certain Substance, is put into woodden Tunnels, square at the top, and narrow at bottom, with a small Hole, which is open’d as soon as the Sugar is sufficiently hardned, to let out the Syrrup; after which it is put into Hogsheads, and so Transported.
The Negro’s which are brought from Angola and Guinee, are so cruelly us’d, that they oftentimes through despair destroy themselves.
The whole Countrey of Guiana is by several modern Writers methodically divided into these inferior or lesser Provinces, 1. Rio de las Amazones. 2. Wiapoco, or Guiana, properly so call’d. 3. Orenoque; and 4. The Islands of Guiana.
Rio de las Amazones.
Rio de las Amazones, or the Countrey of the Amazones, contains all that part of Guiana which lieth on both sides of the River Orellano, of a rich and good Soil, generally, abounding with all sorts of Fruits, and especially with those which the Americans call Totok, and love it extreamly, out of an opinion, they say, that it excites them to Venery, whereunto they are of themselves but too much inclin’d; and another which they call Pita, of a taste far more delicious and pleasing, and not so hurtful as the other. The Countrey was first discover’d by the fore-mention’d Francisco Orellana, a Spaniard from Quito, but it was onely by the River Orellana; and though he be credibly reported to have Sail’d no less than eighteen hundred Leagues down the Stream, and to have discover’d a rich and fair Countrey on both sides the River, well peopled with Natives, and giving in divers places no small Arguments of greater Wealth and Riches more within Land; yet such was the bad success of his second Endeavors, and likewise of those that follow’d him, as is evident from what hath been before related, that, as yet, there seems no farther Report to be given, at least not of any thing special, concerning that part of the Countrey.
Wiapoco, or Guiana, properly so call’d.