Guayna

Sources from old books

1685. Geographia universalis: the present state of the whole world by Pierre Duval.

Guayna.

THis Countrey has been named by some, the Savage Coast, the Countrey of the Amazons, El-Dorado, and Guayna; this last Name, which is Indian, has prevailed over the rest. L'Orenoque bounds it on the West, the Amazon River on the East, the North Sea on the North, and the high Mountains towards the South; and all these bounds leave it a figure, which approaches very much to Oval. L'Oronoque, called also Paria, which in the Indian Tongue, signifies River, does often constrain its Inhabitants, by its over-flowings, to make lodgings upon Trees, which resemble the Nests of great Birds. Amongst other Rivers of Guayna, Surinam is the most Navigable: Cayenne forms the Island of the same Name.

At the Mouth of these Rivers, and all along the Coast, which is generally low, and extends above two hundred and fifty Leagues, there are several Colonies of English, French, and Hollanders.

The Territories that lie near the Lake Parima, which is in the mid'st of Guayna, are said to acknowledge for their Soveraign, a a Successour of Guainacapa, of the Family of the Incas of Peru, and compose the true Kingdom of the Golden King. The rest drawing towards the Sea, is possessed by divers Nations, who are Idolaters, and obey the most ancient of their Families. Some Relations make mention of Amazons inhabiting there, or rather great Women, who make War with an admirable Dexterity and Valour; that those of the Isle of Arowen, which is at the Mouth of the Amazon River, go particularly under that Name, by reason of their long Hair: that there are some Nations in those Parts, where they truck their Women, and where the Men commonly seek after the oldest, because they are more laborious, and fitter than the young for the management of their business.

The Inhabitants of Guayana are long liv'd, by reason of the good Air they breath. The East Winds are regular there; and it is never excessively hot or cruelly cold. There are places proper for the Cultivating of Manioc, for Cotton, for Sugar and Tobacco, and others, which furnish Gums, Timber, Precious Stones of several sorts, Parrots and Monkeys. Hunting and Fishing are here equally useful and pleasant.

Manoa, near the Lake Panima, the principal City of Guayna, is called Eldorado, by reason of the quantity of Gold, which is said to be there so great, both in Coin, Plate, Armour, and other Furniture, that the Inhabitants make their Arms of it, cover their Bodies with it, after having rubbed them with Oyl or Balm: from whence it comes, that people would make this Town pass for the Richest in the World.

The Island Cayene, the principal Colony of the French in those parts, is sixteen or seventeen Leagues in circumference, whereof it presents five to the Sea, the rest is between the arms of the River of the same Name. It has several Hills and Meadows which are there called Savanes.