After this _Pinzon_ discover’d a wide, but shallow River; where Landing, on a Hill he met a great company of _Americans_: He, to invite them to Trade, threw them a Shell; in return for which they cast him a lump of Gold; which when the _Spaniard_ went to take up they all fell upon him; and indeed he could not have defended himself long, had not some of his Company quickly come in to his speedy rescue, which occasion’d a bloody Conflict, wherein several _Spaniards_ were wounded, eight kill’d, and one of their small Boats sunk; for the _Americans_ fought so valiantly, that they pursu’d the _Spanish_ Ships into the Sea. _Pinzon_ being at last freed of these Assailants, got into a fresh-water Sea, caus’d by the confluence of many Rivers falling in there: from hence he got sight of the _Parian_ Coast, and with admiration beheld a Tree which sixteen Men could not compass: Between these Trees he saw as strange a Monster, the foremost part resembling a Fox, the hinder a Monkey, the Feet were like a Mans, with Ears like an Owl; under whose Belly hung a great Bag, in which it carry’d the Young, which they drop not, nor forsake till they can feed themselves. _Pinzon_ caught one of them with three Young, which died in the Voyage, but the Dam he presented alive in _Granada_ to the King. [Illustration] [Sidenote: Great Storm.] This Captain having Sail’d six hundred Leagues along the _Parian_ Coast, in a great Tempest two of his Carvils in his view were overset, their Keels turn’d upward; the third driven from her Anchor, and the fourth so shaken, and full of Leaks, that ready to sink they ran her ashore to save their lives; and though he escaped himself the danger of drowning, then being ashore, yet he was no ways freed from far greater inconveniences; for he saw nothing but death either for want of Provisions, or barbarousness of the Inhabitants: whereupon they resolv’d to free themselves of their miseries by self-slaughter, killing one another; but some better advised to spend their Lives like _Christians_ upon the unbelieving Salvages: Whilst they were in this desperate condition, the Storm ceased, and Providence presented their safety, the Ship driving in before the Wind; at which every one taking fresh courage, they mended the two shatter’d Ships as well as they could; wherein venturing to Sea, and setting Sail, they came on the last of _September, Anno 1500._ into the _Spanish_ Haven _Palos_. SECT. VI. _The Expedition of_ Americus Vesputius. _Americus Vesputius_ a _Florentine_, Commanded four Ships, fitted out at King _Ferdinand_’s Charge, set Sail the twentieth of _May, Anno 1497._ and refreshing at the _Canaries_, from thence he steer’d to _Paria_; where he so much gain’d upon the Inhabitants, that for Pins, Bells, Looking-glasses, and other Trifles, they daily brought aboard in Barter great store of Gold, the best of Merchandise. [Sidenote: The manner of the Inhabitants in _Paria_.]