Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/237

 Brasil;

notwithstanding that betweene the sayd Iland and Fernambuck runneth the mightie riuer of Marannon, whereof (both because of the greatnesse and the riches contayned therein) I must needes make some relation, in regarde I haue promised to speake of euery place that is of any value in all the Indies.This riuer is one of the greatest in the world, and was first found when as the Spaniardes sought out the other coast: but none can passe vp this riuer because of the greatnesse of the current which commeth downe, as also there are many shelues of sand lying in the mouth thereof: wherby it was long before the riches in and about this riuer were knowen, vntill such time as the kingdome of Peru was conquered:

at which time a Captaine called Gonsalo Pizarro passing through the countrey of Peru came at length into a lande which they named La Canela, because there groweth great store of Sinamome, but not altogether so good as that which commeth from the East Indies.

The sayd Captaine proceeding farther into the countrey came at length to a mightie riuer, where he sawe the countrey people rowing in their Canoas, and bringing golde to buy and sell with the Spaniards. Captaine Pizarro seeing this, was desirous to finde out the ende of this riuer, but he could not trauell by lande because of the high mountaines:

wherefore he made a small Barke or Pinnesse to goe and discouer from whence the saide Indians brought their golde, and sent in the saide Pinnesse a Captaine vnder him called Orellana, who with fiftie men went downe the riuer, but could not returne to their Generall Pizarro, because of the great current which was very strong against them, forcing them to passe along the riuer, and to enter into the Sea, and so they sayled on forwarde to the foresaide Ile of Margarita: but as they passed downe this riuer they found it well inhabited with Indians, which were possessed of great store of golde. These men with their Pinnesse were passing downe this riuer eight moneths, for the riuer lyeth very crooked, which maketh a long way by water, neither durst the Spaniardes euer lande, because they sawe the countrey so full of people, but they tooke many Canoas, wherein they had great store of victuals, and some golde.

Now this Orellana comming vnto Margarita with these good