The Discovery of Guiana | Page 4

that the same is of no price,
I have thought good by the addition of these lines to give answer as
well to the said malicious slander as to other objections. It is true that
while we abode at the island of Trinidad I was informed by an Indian
that not far from the port where we anchored there were found certain
mineral stones which they esteemed to be gold, and were thereunto
persuaded the rather for that they had seen both English and Frenchmen
gather and embark some quantities thereof. Upon this likelihood I sent
forty men, and gave order that each one should bring a stone of that
mine, to make trial of the goodness; which being performed, I assured
them at their return that the same was marcasite, and of no riches or
value. Notwithstanding, divers, trusting more to their own sense than to
my opinion, kept of the said marcasite, and have tried thereof since my
return, in divers places. In Guiana itself I never saw marcasite; but all

the rocks, mountains, all stones in the plains, woods, and by the rivers'
sides, are in effect thorough-shining, and appear marvellous rich; which,
being tried to be no marcasite, are the true signs of rich minerals, but
are no other than El madre del oro, as the Spaniards term them, which
is the mother of gold, or, as it is said by others, the scum of gold. Of
divers sorts of these many of my company brought also into England,
every one taking the fairest for the best, which is not general. For mine
own part, I did not countermand any man's desire or opinion, and I
could have afforded them little if I should have denied them the
pleasing of their own fancies therein; but I was resolved that gold must
be found either in grains, separate from the stone, as it is in most of the
rivers in Guiana, or else in a kind of hard stone, which we call the white
spar, of which I saw divers hills, and in sundry places, but had neither
time nor men, nor instruments fit for labour. Near unto one of the rivers
I found of the said white spar or flint a very great ledge or bank, which
I endeavoured to break by all the means I could, because there appeared
on the outside some small grains of gold; but finding no mean to work
the same upon the upper part, seeking the sides and circuit of the said
rock, I found a clift in the same, from whence with daggers, and with
the head of an axe, we got out some small quantity thereof; of which
kind of white stone, wherein gold is engendered, we saw divers hills
and rocks in every part of Guiana wherein we travelled. Of this there
have been made many trials; and in London it was first assayed by
Master Westwood, a refiner dwelling in Wood Street, and it held after
the rate of twelve or thirteen thousand pounds a ton. Another sort was
afterward tried by Master Bulmar, and Master Dimock, assay-master;
and it held after the rate of three and twenty thousand pounds a ton.
There was some of it again tried by Master Palmer, Comptroller of the
Mint, and Master Dimock in Goldsmith's Hall, and it held after six and
twenty thousand and nine hundred pounds a ton. There was also at the
same time, and by the same persons, a trial made of the dust of the said
mine; which held eight pounds and six ounces weight of gold in the
hundred. There was likewise at the same time a trial of an image of
copper made in Guiana, which held a third part of gold, besides divers
trials made in the country, and by others in London. But because there
came ill with the good, and belike the said alderman was not presented
with the best, it hath pleased him therefore to scandal all the rest, and to

deface the enterprise as much as in him lieth. It hath also been
concluded by divers that if there had been any such ore in Guiana, and
the same discovered, that I would have brought home a greater quantity
thereof. First, I was not bound to satisfy any man of the quantity, but
only such as adventured, if any store had been returned thereof; but it is
very true that had all their mountains been of massy gold it was
impossible for us to have made any longer stay to have wrought the
same; and whosoever hath seen with what strength of stone the best
gold ore is environed, he will not think it easy to be had out in heaps,
and especially by us, who had neither men, instruments,