SECOND VOYAGE TO GUIANA [25TH JULY
old and weak This old man declared that Carapana had
repented him of his ambition ever to have sought by the
Spaniard's means to have enlarged his countries and people,
for now that the plenty of gold in that country is known, there
can be no greater misery than if the Spaniards prevail, who
perforce do take all things from them, using them as their
slaves, and (that which is worst of all) they must be content to
leave their women if a Spaniard chance but set his eye on any
of them to fancy her On the other side they could hope for no
better state and usage than her Majesty's gracious government;
* for/ said the old man, * the other year when we fled into the
mountains, and measured your doings by the Spaniards in like
case, we made no other account but that your commander
being able, as he was, would doubtless have persecuted us to
the uttermost We found it far otherwise, and that none of
your well governed company durst offer any of us wrong and
violence , no, not by stealth, when unknown they might have
done it' Wherefore Carapana doth crave of her Majesty for
himself and his people that they may enjoy her protection
Hereby Captain Keymis would give this caveat to our
English (who to steal the first blessing of an untraded place will
perhaps secretly hasten thither) that they may be assured that
these people, as they no way sought to harm but rather used
our men with all kindness, so are they impatient of such a wrong
as to have any of their people perforce taken from them, and
will doubtless seek revenge He concludeth that it will be
blindness and deafness in those that spend their days in serving
the commonwealth to seek either to forslow so fit an occasion or
to forsake so general a blessing This country of Guiana doth
not only propose some hope of gold mines, and certain pieces of
made gold, but also in the trade of these rivers brasil-wood,
honey, cotton, balsamum, and drugs to help to defray the
charges * The case then so standing,' saith he, * is it not mere
wretchedness in us to spend our time, break our sleep, and
waste our brains, in contriving a cavilling false title to defraud a
neighbour of half an acre of ground, whereas here whole
shires of fruitful rich grounds, lying now waste for want of
people, do prostitute themselves unto us like a fair and beautiful
woman,, ia the pnde and flower of desired years/
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