Drie scheeps-togten na het goud-rijke koningrijk Guiana, in America geleegen, door den Engelssen ridder Wal...

OF WALTHER RALEGH.

1595

...there comes one of the King's servants, delegated for this purpose, who blows fine powdered gold over them with a reed, so that the dusted person is shining from head to foot. When they are all thus gilded, they join together by 10 or 20 and often drink for 6 or 7 days long, until they have their fill.

Berreo seeks to divert the English from the voyage to Guiana.

On our voyage, after Berreo understood that we had the intention regarding Guiana, of which he had previously given opening regarding everything he was aware of, he became very sad. He also set all means and reasons to work to divert us from it, and sought to instill a dislike in the noblemen, as they would, according to his words, have to endure much misery and adversity if one were to continue the voyage. He then wanted to assure us that we would not be able to sail into the river with the ships, as it was very sandy, so that the canoes indigenous boats, going only 12 inches deep, often struck the ground. Also, the native people would not listen to us, but be flighty, and if we persisted in following them, they would set their own city on fire.

Confirmed with reasons.

Likewise, that the journey was very far to travel, and the winter was at hand, such that when the waters began to swell, it would be impossible to find the river; and one could only carry enough provisions for half the journey by the boats. But what had the most weight was that he said the kings and princes living near the borders of Guiana had pledged themselves not to involve themselves in any way with the Europeans, since these sought nothing but their ultimate destruction, as they would aim, through their desire for gold, to drive them out of the land, or to make them entirely subservient and gradually exterminate them.

Although we could well surmise that most of Berreo’s reasons were not unfounded...