A voyage of the honourable Gentleman M. Robert
Duddeley, now knight, to the isle of Trinidad
, and the
coast of Paria: with his returne home by the Isles of
Granata, Santa Cruz, Sant Juan de puerto rico, Mona
,
Zacheo, the shoalds called Abreojos, and the isle of
Bermuda
. In which voyage he and his company tooke
and sunke nine Spanish ships, wherof one was an
armada of 600 tunnes. Written at the request of M.
Richard Hakluyt.
HAVING ever since I could conceive of any thing bene
delighted with the discoveries of navigation, I fostered in
my selfe that disposition till I was of more yeres and
better ability to undertake such a matter. To this purpose I called to me the advise of sufficient seamen, and
principally undertooke a voyage for the South seas; but
by reason that many before had miscaried in the same
enterprise, I could not be suffered to hazard more of her
Majesties subjects upon so uncerteine a ground as my
desire: which made me by constraint (great charges
already by me defrayed) to prepare another course for the
West Indies, without hope there to doe any thing woorth
note: and so common is it indeed to many, as it is not
woorth the registring. Neverthelesse, I have yeelded to
your former importunity, and sent you this my journall
to supply a vacant roome amongst your more important
discourses.
Nowe being provided for this last enterprize, rather
to see some practise and experience, then any wonders
or profite, I weighed ancker from Southampton
road the
sixt of November 1594. But the winde falling scant, it
was the 17. day of the same moneth before I could put
into the Sea. Upon this day my selfe in the Beare a
shippe of 200. tunnes my Admirall, and Captaine Munck
in the Beares whelpe vice-admirall, with two small pinnesses called the Frisking and the Earewig passed through
the Needles, and within two dayes after bare in with
Plimmouth. My busines at this port-towne dispatched, I
set saile; whither againe by contrary winds to my great
misfortune, I was inforced to returne backe. I might call
it misfortune; for by this meanes I utterly (for all the
voyage) lost my vice-admirall; which was the cause likewise of loosing mine owne pinnesse, which three were the
principall stay of my voyage. For at this last leaving of
England
in a storme I lost mine owne pinnesse, as is
before said. Notwithstanding all these crosses all alone I
went wandering on my voyage, sailing along the coast of
Spaine within view of
Cape Finister, and
Cape S. Vincent,
the North & South capes of Spaine. In which space
having many chases, I could meet with none but my
countreymen or countreys friends. Leaving these Spanish
shores I directed my course the 14. of December towards
the isles of the Canaries. Here I lingered 12 dayes for
two reasons: The one, in hope to meete my vice-admiral:
The other, to get some vessel to remove my pestered men
into, who being 140. almost in a ship of 200. tunnes, there
grew many sicke. The first hope was frustrated, because
my vice-admiral was returned into England
with two
prizes. The second expectation fell out to our great comfort: for I tooke two very fine Caravels under the calmes
of Tenerif and Palma, which both refreshed and amended
my company, and made me a Fleete of 3. sailes. In the
one Caravel called The Intent, I made Benjamin Wood
Captaine, in the other, one Captaine Wentworth. Thus
cheared as a desolate traveller with the company of my
small and newe erected Fleete, I continued my purpose
for the West Indies, and first for
Cape Blanco in Africa
upon the deserts of Libya
. My last hope was to meete
my lost ship, and withall to renue my victuals upon the
Canthers, which are Portugal
fishermen: but the Canthers
had bene so frighted by Frenchmen, as I could get none.
Riding under this
White Cape two daies, and walking on
shore to view the countrey, I found it a waste, desolate,
barren, and sandie place, the sand running in drifts like
snow and being very stony; for so is all the countrey
sand upon stone (like Arabia
deserta, and Petrea) and full
of blacke venemous lizards, with some wilde beasts and
people which be tawny Moores, so wilde, as they would
but call to my Caravels from the shore, who road very
neere it. But not desirous to make any longer aboad in
this place, by reason of the most infectious serenas or
dewes that fall all along these coasts of Africa
, I caused
my Master Abraham Kendall to shape his course directly
for the isle of Trinidad
in the West Indies; which after
22. dayes we descried, and the first of February came to
an anker under a point thereof called Curiapan, in a bay
which was very full of pelicans, and I called it Pelicans
bay. About 3. leagues to the Eastwards of this place we
found a mine of Marcazites which glister like golde (but
all is not gold that glistereth) for so we found the same
nothing worth, though the Indians did assure us it was
Calvori, which signifieth gold with them. These Indians
are a fine shaped and a gentle people, al naked & painted
red, their commanders wearing crownes of feathers. These
people did often resort unto my ship, & brought us hennes,
hogs, plantans, potatoes, pinos, tobacco, & many other
pretie commodities, which they exchanged with us for
hatchets, knives, hookes, belles, and glasse buttons.
From this bay I fell downe lower to a place called Paracoa,
where I desired rather to ride, because it was a convenient place to water, balast, ground, & grave my
Caravels. Then I commanded al my men to lye on shore,
after I had caused to be made for them a little skonce like
an halfe moone for their defence, being jealous of the
Spaniards, of whose estate I could gather no certaintie,
till from Margarita Antonie Berreo for his defence had
gotten some 300. souldiers, a greater number then I was
able to encounter withall, having then but 50. men,
because my Caravels before their comming were sent
away. The Simerones of the yland traded with me stil in
like sort. And the Spaniards now provided for me, began
to send messengers to me in kindnesse. Notwithstanding
though I had no reason to assault them, because they were
both poore & strong, yet for my experience and pleasure
I marched 4. long marches upon the yland, & the last from
one side of the yland to the other, which was some 50.
miles: going and comming through a most monstrous
thicke wood (for so is most part of the yland) & lodging
my selfe in
Indian townes. The country is fertile, and ful
of fruits, strange beasts, and foules, whereof munkeis,
babions & parats were in great abundance. Being much
delighted with this yland, and meaning to stay here some
time about discovering the maine right against the same
(the entrance into the empire of Guiana
) being shewed the
discovery thereof by Captaine Popham, who received the
discovery of the saide empire from one captaine Harper,
which being a prisoner learned of the Spaniards at the
Canaries in the selfe same maner almost, as sir Walter
Ralegh very discreetly hath written. The intelligence of
Harper, I conceive, the Captaine hath yet to shew in
Spanish. This discovery of Guiana
I greatly desired: yet
least I should adventure all occasions upon it onely, I sent
my two Caravels from me the 17. day of February, to try
their fortunes in the Indies not appointing any other place
to meet but England
, furnishing them with all the provision that I could spare, and dividing my victuals equally
with them, knowing they were able to do more good in
the Indies then greater ships. The Caravels being gone,
I began to enquire privately of the Savages concerning
the maine over against us, and learned that the names of
the kingdomes joyning to the Sea-coast were in order
these. The kingdom of Morucca, the kingdome of Seawano, the kingdome of Waliame, the kingdom of Caribes,
the kingdome of Yguirie, and right against the Northermost part of Trinidad
, the maine was called The high land
of Paria, the rest a very lowe land. Morucco I learned to
bee full of a green stone called Tacarao, which is good for
the stone. In
Seawano I heard of a Mine of gold to be in
a towne called Wackerew, the Captaines name Semaracon. Of Waliame I will speake last, because therein I
made most discovery. The Caribes I learned to be maneaters or Canibals, and great enemies to the Islanders of
Trinidad. The kingdome of Yguiri I heard to be full of a
metall called by the Indians Arara, which is either copper
(as I could learne) or very base gold. In the high land of
Paria I was informed by divers of these Indians, that there
was some Perota, which with them is silver, and great
store of most excellent Cane-tabacco. But lastly to come
to Waliame, it is the first kingdome of the empire of
Guiana
. The great wealth which I understood to be
therein, and the assurance that I had by an Indian, mine
interpreter, of a golden Mine in a towne of this kingdome
called Orocoa, in the River (as he called it) of Owrinoicke
was much to be esteemed. This Indian spake Spanish,
and whatsoever he knew, he reveiled it to my selfe onely
by a private interpreter, not in words alone, but offered
upon paine of life to be guide himselfe to any place that he
spake of. This discovery of the Mine I mentioned to my
company, who altogether mutined against my going,
because they something feared the villany of Abraham
Kendal, who would by no meanes go. I then wanted my
lost pinnesse, and was constrained to send 14. men in my
ship-boat for this discovery, with most of the discreetest
men in my ship, & gave them their directions to follow,
written under mine owne hand. They went from me, and
entred into one of the mouthes by the broken lands, which
river goeth under the name of the great
River Orenoque,
the foreland wherof was called Capulio bearing South & by
West, wanting a fourth part, from the point of Curiapan
aforesaid, being 4. leags distant. They found the maine
(as China
is reported) full of fresh Rivers running one into
another, abounding with fish, and a land al woody, seeming to have great store of strange beasts and foules, &
very populous. They entred into a small river called
Cabota, the people named Veriotaus, a courteous people.
The next river they passed was called Mana
in the kingdome of Tivitivas, where the king offered to bring a Canoa
full of this golden oare, and to this purpose sent a Canoa,
which returned and brought my men this answere, that
Armago Captaine of the towne of Orocoa and the Mine
refused them, but if they would come thither, hee himselfe
would make them answere. Upon this my boat went, and
at his appointed place hee met them with some 100. men
in Canoas, and tolde them that by force they should have
nothing but blowes, yet if they would bring him hatchets,
knives, and Jewes-harps, he bid them assure me, he had
a Mine of gold, and could refine it, & would trade with
me: for token whereof, he sent me 3. or 4. Croissants or
halfe moones of gold weighing a noble a piece or more,
and two bracelets of silver. Also he told them of another
rich nation, that sprinkled their bodies with the poulder
of golde, and seemed to be guilt, and farre beyond them
a great towne called El Dorado, with many other things.
My men being satisfied, and thinking their company too
fewe to stay among these Savages, and their victuall
spent, returned. This Balthazar my Indian their guide
ranne from them: which distresse caused them to borrow
of Armago newe guides, who brought them home another
way through a River called Braha by the high land of
Paria, and so to my ship. They accompted Orocoa 150.
miles distant, so they rowed in my boate above 250. miles.
Their absence from mee was 16. dayes, making but one
nights aboad any where. The report of this made mee
attempt my company to goe with them againe. But nowe
they were worse then before; for unlesse I would have
gone my selfe alone, not one man would goe with me (no
albeit I had had commission to hang or kill them) for my
men came home in very pitifull case almost dead for
famine; and indeed such was their misery, as they dranke
not in three dayes, for so long they were out of the fresh
Rivers, before they recovered the shippe, and yet the boat
was filled with as much victuall, as it could holde.
In this time of my boates absence there came to me a
pinnesse of Plimmouth, of which Captaine Popham before
named was chiefe, who gave us great comfort. And if I
had not lost my pinnesses, wherein I might have caried
victuals and some men, we had discovered further the
secrets of those places. Also this Captaine and I stayed
some sixe or eight dayes longer for Sir Walter Ralegh
(who, as wee surmized, had some purpose for this discovery) to the ende, that by our intelligence and his boates
we might have done some good: but it seemed he came
not in sixe or eight weekes after. So Captaine Popham
and I helde it not convenient to stay any longer: therefore
new watering our selves at
Paracoa, we set saile to see
further of the Indies, leaving the yle of Trinidad
the 12.
day of March. The 13. I tooke a small prize of sackes
25. leagues to the Northward of an yland which I sailed
by, called Granata. This prize refreshed us well: yet
meaning to sel her at the yle of Sant Juan de Puerto rico,
and shaping our course thither by the ylands of Santa
Cruz and Infierno, I coasted all the South side of the said
yle of S. John, till I came to an ancker at
Cape Roxo:
where riding 14. dayes to expect S. Domingo men, which
oftentimes fall with the yland of Mona
, and finding none
(neither would the Spaniards of S. Juan de puerto rico
buy my prize) I unladed her, tooke in the goods, and after
burned her. This ended, I disemboqued (where fewe
Englishmen had done before, by reason of the great
dangers betweene this yland of S. Juan de puerto rico and
Hispaniola) by a little yland called Zacheo. And after
carefully doubling the shouldes of Abreojos, I caused the
Master, (hearing by a Pilote, that the Spanish fleete ment
now to put out of Havana
) to beare for the Meridian of
the yle of Bermuda
, hoping there to finde the fleete dispersed. The fleete I found not, but foule weather enough
to scatter many fleetes; which companion left mee not in
greatest extremitie, till I came to the yles of Flores
and
Cuervo: whither I made the more haste, hoping to meete
some great Fleete of her Majestie my sovereigne, as I had
intelligence, and to give them advise of this rich Spanish
fleet: but finding none, and my victuals almost spent, I
directed my course for England
.
Returning alone, and worse manned by halfe then I
went foorth, my fortune was to meete a great Armada of
this fleete of some 600. tunnes well appointed, with whom
I fought board and board for two dayes, being no way
able in all possibilitie which fiftie men to board a man of
warre of sixe hundreth tunnes. And having spent all my
powder I was constrained to leave her, yet in such distresse without sailes and mastes, and hull so often shot
through with my great Ordinance betweene winde and
water, that being three hundred leagues from land, I dare
say, it was impossible for her to escape sinking. Thus
leaving her by necessitie in this miserable estate, I made
for England
, where I arrived at S. Ives in
Cornewall about
the latter ende of May 1595, scaping most dangerously in
a great fogge the rocks of Silly.
Thus by the providence of God landing safely, I was
kindely intertained by all my friends, and after a short
time learned more certaintie of the sinking of that great
shippe, being also reputed rich by divers intelligences out
of Spaine: which we then supposed not, & were doubtfull
whether she had bin of Biscay
or S. John de Luz in France
laden with fish onely from Newfoundland
.
In this voyage I and my fleete tooke, sunke and burnt
nine Spanish ships; which was losse to them, though I
got nothing.
Here follow certaine wordes of the language of Trinidad
which I observed at my being there.
| Guttemock. | A man. |
| Tabairo, Dabarah, Or Dabarra. | The heare of ones head. |
| Dessie
| The forehead. |
| Dasereth, or Dacosi | An eye. |
| Dalacoack | The mouth. |
| Archeh | The teeth. |
| Daria | The gummes. |
| Desire | The lips. |
| Dill | The tongue. |
| Dudica | The eares. |
| Dacan | A hand. |
| Dacabbo | The palme of the hand. |
| Dadena | The wrist. |
| Dacurle | A knee. |
| Daddano | The calfe of the legge. |
| Dabodda | The toes. |
| Dacutti | The feete. |
| Cattie | The moone. |
| Tauraroth | A rope. |
| Arkeano | A paire of cizers. |
| Weevah | The heaven. |
| Harowa | A stone good for the head ache. |
| Mointiman | Yron
or steele. |
| Howa | Munkeis in generall. |
| Carotta | A thing like pappe. |
| Sakel | It is well, or I am well. |
| Techir | A bracelet. |
| Bodad | A boxe or chest. |
| Mentinie | A tree. |
| Addehegaeno | A glasse. |
| *Calcouri | Gold. |
| Perota | Silver. |
| Tacorao a green stone.} | {Arrara copper. |
| Caulpiri | A white stone. |
| Casparo A sword. } | { Tibetebe cockles. |
| Marrahabo a bow. } | {Semaro an arrow. |
| Huculle | A bow-string. |
| Halete | A Potato roote. |
| Caerwoda | A sweete root. |
| Maurisse Wheat. } | { Queca A basket.
|
| Yeddola A knife. } | { Sambolers A hat. |
| Beyou A pipe.} | {Callit Bread. |
| *Oronuie | Water. |
| Arguecona | A paire of cizzers. |
| Heldaro | A spoone. |
| Hemachugh | A bread which they eate. |
| Hicket Fire. } | {Walrowa A parrot. |
| Ureit Tabacco. } | { Barudda A combe. |
| Addoth | A sticke. |
| Barreannaire | A button, or beads. |
| Curaballa & Sibath, for 2 sundry stones: but
Sibath in general signifieth a stone. |
| Tolletillero bels. } | {Ullasso a Tuny-fish. |
| Bohery A flying fish. } | {Bara Water. |
| Haddalle | The Sunne. |
| Babage-Canoaseen | The manner of the Indians
hailing of a ship, calling it after the name of
their Canoas. |
| Non yuo, Or Non quapa | I know not, Or I cannot tell. |
