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The Discovery of the Lsrge, ani Beantiftd Empire of Guiana ; with a Relation of the Great and Goldtn Clyou St mon (which the Spaniards call El Dorado), fcc. Performed in the Year 1595, by Sir W. Ralegh. Ent., Captain of her Majesty's Guard, Lord Warden Or the Stannaries, and her Highness's Lieutenant-General of the County of Cornwall. Reprinted from the edition of 1596, with some unpub- lished Documents relative to that Country. Edited, with copious Explanatory Notes and a Biographical Memoir, by Sir Robert H. Schomburgk, Ph. D., Re.

Brocitavny, Hakluyt Society. Annals of the Artists of Spain. By William Stirling, MA. In three volumes. Perot% Poems. By Dora Greenwell Pickering.

RALEGH'S DISCOVERY OF GUIANA AND RELATION OF EL DORADO.

This voyage to "yet unspoiled Guiana," in search of the "rich city Geryon'a sons call El Dorado," was not the disastrous enterprise of 1617- 18, that conducted Ralegh to the block, but the expedition undertaken more than twenty years before—in 1595. On this occasion he cannot be said to have made any absolute discovery, since the Spaniards had ascended the Orinoco nearly if not quite as Ear as he penetrated ; but Ralegh was the first to regard the country with the eye of a scholar and an enlightened observer, and the first to give an account of his observa- tions to the world. This, in what fell under his own perception, was done with so much accuracy, that Sir Robert Schomburgk bears strong testimony to the exactness of Ralegh's accounts in the great majority of cases; and where he fell into error it was mostly unavoidable. His re- ports of wonders that he had heard of—the nation of the Amazons—" the Anthropophagi, and men whose heads do grow beneath their shoulders" --,the riches of El Dorado, and a prospectus-like colouring that he gave to his accounts of the country, coupled with the fact of his unpopularity, and that he brought back very little gold, threw doubts upon his veracity, not only with his contemporaries but posterity. We agree with Sir Ro- bert Schomburgk in thinking that injustice has been done to Ralegh as a voyager, and that he really himself believed in the existence of the El Dorado he went in search of, even if objects of colonizing Guiana, and founding a species of Anglo-Indian empire on the Orinoco as a counter- poise to Spain might mingle with his golden dreams. Indeed, Ralegh's volume not only appears to us to confirm the reality of his belief, but to explain the origin of the report of El Dorado, which had, like most popu- lar opinions, a real foundation.

There is no doubt that attractive stories of the splendour and riches of Mexico and Peru had widely circulated through the continent of America; in fact, it was upon such reports that Cortes and Pizarro undertook their expeditions. The same information which spread along the shores of the Atlantic and Pacific appears to have crossed the continent; and the tales of the Indians of the Orinoco, and of the Spaniards through the Indians, were not far from the truth as regarded the riches of "Cusco in Peru ;" only applied to a new empire, which empire was in some sense a reality. On the capture of Atabalipa and the destruction of the empire by Pizarro, some of the family of the Incas retreated Northwards, and held their ground against the Spaniards for a time, if their descendants are not there yet. It is probable that the migration and settlement of those chil- dren of the sun was not accomplished without vanquishing and displacing some Indian tribes : it is equally probable that this war was exaggerated, and that the seat of the exiled family was carried farther to the West than its true position. But there seems no doubt that the story of El Dorado was founded upon the actual riches of Peru, and the actual emigration of the Incas • though probably coloured in passing from Indian to Indian, exaggerated by the avaricious imagination of the Spaniards, and taking its shape from the inundations of the Orinoco, which, in the rainy season, give to the whole level country the appearance of a vast lake, on which El Dorado was supposed to be placed. The stories told to Ralegh are all consistent enough as to the settlement of the Incas in the interior, and their Peruvian riches : if the question arose, where could the nets riches come from, the answer of rivers and mines was at hand, even if secret information touching the more unknown parts of Peru was not ready to solve anything,—an idea which possesses some Spanish Creoles to this day respecting the Indian knowledge of hidden treasures and mines richer than any that have been worked.

That the voyage is not so full of incidents or hairbreadth escapes as some of those early expeditions, is partly to be ascribed to the fact of Ralegh's foresight and politic prudence. The Spaniards had settlements in Trinidad ; Columbus himself had visited the Gulf of Paria—in fact, he supposed the Orinoco was the river of Paradise; and Spanish adven- turers had explored its branches and reached the main stream. All that bad been written on the subject was present to Ralegh; he gained know- ledge from the Indians by sympathizing with them against the Spaniards; and he mastered what the Spaniards knew by disguising his objects, an by making them drunk, as he very naively admits. While we remained at Puerto de los Hispanioles some Spaniardes came shard vs to buy lynnen of the company, and such other thinges as they wanted, and also to view our shippes and company, all which I entertained kindly and feasted after our manner: by meanes whereof I learned of one and another as much of the es- tate of Guiana as I could, or as they knew, for those poore souldiers hauing beene Many pewee without wine, a fewe draughtes made them merry, in which moode they vaunted of Galena and of the riches therof, and all what they knew of the wales and passages, my selfe seeming to purpose nothing lease then the enterance or discouene thereof, but bred in them an opinion that I was bound owl), for the reliefe of those enghsh, which I had planted in Virginia, whereof the brute was come among them, which I had performed in my returns if extremity of weather had not forst me from the said coast.'

The natural difficulties and the hardships incidental to the country could not be overcome ; and had to be endured, as the adventurers of that age bore such things pretty much as matters of course, till they be- came unbearable. After Balqh, by good luck and his dealings with the Indians, had discovered the proper channel to ascend, the bar at its mouth prevented his ships from entering. He therefore had to embark a

part of his crew in boats and ascend the stream with the flood, anchoring at the ebb. As far as the tide flowed this did well enough ; when it ceased, they were obliged, in the absence of wind, to row against the force of the current ; the crew being continually fed by hopes.

" But soone after the flood of the sea left vs, and we enforced either by maine strength to row against a violent currant, or to retunie as wise as we went out we-had then no shift but to perswade the companies that it was but two or three daies works, and therfore desired them to take paines, enery gentleman and others taking their tarns to row, and to spell one the other at the hewers end. Euerie dale we passed by goodlie branches of ritiers, some falling from the west, others from the east into Amana, but those I leaue to the description in the chart of discouerie, where enerie one shall be named with his rising Mid descent. When three daies more were onergone, our companies began to deigialre_ , the weather being extreame hot, the nuer bordered with verie high trees that kept away the sire, and the currant against vs euery daie stronger than other: But we euermore commanded our Pilots to promise an end the next dais, and reed it so long as we were driuen to assure them from foster reaches of the riner to three, and so to two, and so to the next reach: but so long we laboured as many daies were spent, and so driuen to draw our selues to harder allowance, our bread euen at the last, and no drinke at all: and our men and our selues so wearied and scorched, and doubtful! withal' whether we should suer performsit or Do, the heat encreasing as we drew towards the line; for wee were now in flue degrees. " The farther we went on (our victual! decreasing and the airs breeding great faintnea) we grew weaker and weaker when we had most need of strength and abilitie, for howerlie the ricer ran more violently than the other against vs, and the barge, wherries, and ships bate of Captaine Gifford, and Captaine Calfield, had spent all their prouisions, so as wee were brought into despairs and discom- fort, had we not perswaded all the cumpanie that it was but onlie one daies worke more to attaine the lande where we should be reissued of all we wanted, and if we returned that we were sure to starue by the way, and that the worlds would also laugh vs to scorne."

So, on they went. Meetings with Indians sometimes supplied them with provisions ; at other times they caught fish, or found large quantities of turtles' eggs ; the crews rallied under the influence of a full meal, and "our men cried, let us go on, we care not how farre." But by the time they had reached the mouth of the river Caroni or Caroli, the rainy season set in ; making it impossible to stein the currents, and flooding the country so as to put military operations out of the question, even had Ralegh had a sufficient force With him to undertake a campaign against the assumed Emperor of Manoa ; which an Indian chief, with whom he struck up an alliance, warned him would be no light task, and impossible to undertake without native alliances and help. Hence he was compelled to return, after having performed a boat voyage under difficulties such as he thus fairly enumerates. "In the bottom of an old gallego which I caused to be fashioned him it Galley, and in one barge, two wherries, and a i ship bote of the lyons whelpe, we caned persons .o.. and their victuals for a moneth n the same, being at drinen to lie in the rams and wether, in the open sire' in the burning Simon, and vpon the hard bords, and to dress; our meat, and to carry at manner of furniture in them, wherewith they were so pestred and vnsauery, that what with victuals, being most fish, with the weete clothes of so many men thrust together and the heats of the Burnie, I will vndertake there was neuer any prison in England, that conlde be founds more vnsauory and lothsome, especially to my selfe, who had for many yeares before beene dieted and cared for in a sort farre differing."

Yet, by discipline and management, or, as he in his recommendatory account at the close of the book considers, the healthfulness of the cli- mate, he was enabled to say that "we lost not any one, nor had one ill disposed to my knowledge, nor found aisle callentura, or any of those pestilent diseases which dwell in all hote regions and so Dere the Equi- noctiall line."

The Discovery of Guiana with a -Relation of El Dorado is as much an account as a narrative—the result of observation upon the country, arifi- a statement of Indian or Spanish stories and reports ; of which the most curious is the account of the nation whose eyes were in the shoulders and the month in the chest. Mixed with these things, and the narrative itself, are the natural and political speculations of Ra- legh; exhibiting a curious kind of learning, great native sagacity, and some credulity,—unless we suppose that part of the enthusiasm was counterfeit, with the view of stimulating the settlement of Guiana. A great feature of the book, however, and not the least interesting, is auto- biographical. It furnishes us with a distinct idea of Ralegh, both in his strength and his weaknesses, as well as a mirror of the mind of the age. The Discovery of Guiana displays the learning of the philosophical sol- dier; his knowledge of mankind ; his foresight, caution, and daring; his largeness of conception ; and his prudent regard to means, even if we allow his end was not very feasible. With these higher qualities were mixed more regard "to fame than conscience* and perhaps more respect to advantage than to either; a crafty flattery of the Queen in matters where untruth could not be detected,—such as the effect his narration of her exploits and her portrait produced upon the Indians ; as well as a reck- less indifference to practicability, if not to veracity, in promoting his schemes and (as he expected) his own fortune. There are other points more patent and common to the opinion and practices of his time : such as a disregard of the rights of foreigners and barbarians,—for although he was careful in maintaining discipline and protecting the Indians, he admits that it was only from policy ; an indifference to human life when it stood in his way ; and conduct exceedingly like treachery, and more to be expected from a buccaneer than the captain of the Queen's Guard. Yet English opinion must have justified him in such things as the fol- lowing attack upon the Spaniards after he had been living with them on good terms, or Ralegh would never have published it under his own hand. The extract also indicates his treatment of the Indians and his flattery of Elizabeth.

"While we thus spent the time I was assured by another Casique of the north side of the Hand [Trinidad], that Berreo [the governor] had sent to Marguerite and to Cumana for souldiers, meaning to have giuen me a Cassado at parting, if it had bin possible. For although he had gimp order through all the 'land that no Indian should come aborde to trade with me vpon paine of hanging and quarter- ing, (hawing executed two of them for the same which I afterwardes founde) yet euery night there came some with most lamentable complaints of his cruelty, how he had deuided the iland and giuen to euery soldier a part, that he made the ancient Casiqui which were Lordes of the country to be their slaues, that he kept

* Ben Janson.

Them in chains, and dropped their naked bodies with burning bacon, and such other torments, which 1 found afterwards to be true: for in the city after I entred the same, there were 5 of the Lords or title kings (which they ml Casiqui in the west Indies) in one chaine almost dead of famine, and wasted with torments: these are called in their own language Acarewana, and now of late since English, French, and Spanish are come among them, they cal thenmelues Capitaynes, because they perceiue that the chiefest of euery ship is called by that name. Those fine Capitaynes, in the chaine were called Wannawanare, Carroaori, Ma- suarima, Tarroopantuna, and Aterima. So as both to be reuenged of the former wrong, as also considering that to enter Guiana by small boats, to depart 400 or 500 miles from my ships, and to leaue a garison in my backe interessed in the same interprize, who also daily expected supplies out of Spain; I should bane savoured very much of the Asse: and therfore taking. a time of most aduantage, I set vpon the Corp du guard in the enening, and haumg put them to the sword, sente Captaine Calfeild onwards with 60 soldiers, and my self followed with 40 more-and so toke their new city which they called S. Ioseph, by breake of day: they abode not any fight after a few shot, and al being dismissed but onely Berreo and his companion, I brought them with me abord, and Mahe instance of the In-

dians I set their new city of S. Iosephs on fire. • •

"We then hastened away towards our purposed discouery, and first I called all the Captaines of the iland together that were enemies to the Spaniards, for there were some which Berreo had brought out of other countries, and planted there to eat out and west those that were natural of the place, and by my Indian inter- preter, which I carried out of England, I made them vnderstand that I was the sernant of a Queene, who was the great Casique of the north, and a virgin, and had more Casiqui ruder her then there were trees in their Hand: that she was an enemy to the Castellani in respect of their tyrannie and oppression, and that she delinered all such nations about her, as were by them oppressed, and haning freed all the coast of the northern world from their seruitude had sent me to free them also, and withal to defend the countrey of Guiana from their inuasion and con- quest. I shewed them her majesties picture which they so admired and honored, as it had beene easie to haue brought them idolatrous thereof.

"The like and a more large discourse I made to the rest of the nations both in my passing to Guiana, and to those of the borders, so as in that part of the world her maiesty is very famous and admirable, whom they now call Ezrabeta Cassi- puna Aquerewana, whichls as much as Elizabeth, the great prineesse, or great- est commander."

The following passage from the close of the book indicates Ralegh's style of recommending his projects. Neither Sergeant Kite nor a mo- dern advertisement could surpass him in promises, or approach him in style.

"Those that are desirous to discouer and to see many nations, may be satisfied within this riuer, which bringeth forth so many armes and branches leading to seuemll countries, and prouinces, shone 2,000 miles east and west, and 800 miles south and north: and of these, the most eyther rich in Gold, or in other mar- chandizes. The common soldier shal Acre fight for gold, and pay himselfe in steede of pence, with plates of halfe a foote brode, talents he breaketh his bones in other warren for prouant and penury. Those commanders and Chieftaines, that shoote at honour, and abundance, shal find there more rich and bewtifall cities, more temples adorned with golden Images, more sepulchers filled with

treasure, then either Cortez found in Mexico, or Pazzaro in Peru: and shining glorie of this conquest will eclipse all those so farre extended beames of the Spanish nation. There is no countrey which yeeldeth more pleasure to the In- habitants, either for these common delights of hunting, hawking, fishing, fowling, and the rest, then Guiana doth. It bath so many plaines, cleare fitters, abundance of Phesants, Partridges, Quailes; Rayles, Cranes, Herons, and all other fowle: Deere of all sortes, Porkes, Hares, Lyons, Tygers, Leopards, and diners other

Sortes, of beastes., eyther for chace, or foods. • "Where there is store of gold, it is in effect nedeles to remember other com- modities for trade; but it bath towards the south part of the rifler, great quantities of Brasill woode, and of diners berries, that the a most perfect crimson and Carnation: And for painting, al France, Italy, or the east Indies yeild none such: For the more the skyn is washed, the fayrer the culloar appeareth, and with which, euen those brown and tawme women spot themselues, and cullour their cheekes. All places yeilde abundance of Cotten, of sylke, of Balaamtun, and of those kindes most excellent, and neuer known in Europe: of all aortas of gamines, of Indian paper: and what else the countries may afford° within the land wee knowe not, neither had we time to abide the trial!, and search. The soils besides is so excellent and so full of riuers, as it will carrie sugar, ginger, and all those other commodities, which the west Indies bath."

The work has been intrusted by the Council of the Hakluyt Society, for Which'it is published, to the editorship of Sir Robert Schoraburgk; who, from his practical knowledge of the region, was well qualified for the task. He has appended copious notes to the text of Ralegh; some- times fixing the spot mentioned, either from the natural features or the native name; sometimes explaining fully the phrenomena or characteris- tics to which the traveller only alludes; and occasionally supporting his accuracy, or, more rarely, correcting a mistake. Sir Robert has also compiled an excellent map to illustrate the voyage from his own obser- vations and Codazzi's Atlas of Venezuela. He has besides contributed a notice of Ralegh's life, more especially as regards discovery and coloni- zation ; and printed from manuseripts in the British Moe= Ralegh's own journal of the earlier part of his last voyage, and a memoir touching the advantage of annexing Guiana to "the Crowne Imperiall of the Realme of England, which though anonymous is doubtless from the pen of Ralegh. These additions give an original value to the voluble, and impart to it a peculiar character, which renders it a still More appropriate pub- lication of the Hakluyt Society than a reprint of the original edition would have been.