Meanwhile, a considerable force ascended the river, under Captain Kemys and Sir Walter’s son. _Guyana_ certainly belonged to England, if to any foreign nation, since on the occasion of Raleigh’s former expedition the _Caciques_, who had welcomed him as their deliverer from their Spanish neighbours, had declared their allegiance to England. But during his long absence Spanish settlements had been formed in the country. Kemys proceeded up the _Orinoco_, his orders being to make for the mines without offering molestation; but if he were attacked he was to repel force by force. When encamped for the night half-way to the mines, he was set upon by the Spaniards, who hoped to take him by surprise, but who were repulsed, and who retreated, closely pursued by young Raleigh, who fell in the pursuit. The existence of mines was, however, proved, since four gold refineries were found in _San Pome_. But Kemys had lost heart. The passes were in the hands of Spaniards, as were the forests and the banks of the streams, so that his followers were constantly shot down by unseen enemies. Returning, therefore, down the river, he rejoined his chief, with what was literally a sentence of death to the latter. Kemys could not bear his friend’s reproaches, and, in utter despair, he took his own life. Four months later Raleigh was again in England, and on the 28th of October of the same year he expiated on Tower Hill his want of success; the illustrious victim being offered up by the contemptible James as a sacrifice to the implacable vengeance of Spain. NOTE.--Chapter XVII. is founded on “Life of Sir John Hawkins,” by Samuel Johnson, 2nd edition, 1787. “Hawkins, (Sir John). Two Voyages made to the West Indies,” Hakluyt, III. “Sir Francis Drake; The World Encompassed” (Hakluyt Society). 1854. “Voyages of Drake;” Hakluyt, II. IV.; Purchas, I. IV. “Life of Drake,” by Barrow. “Raleigh (Sir Walter); Discovery of Guiana” (Hakluyt Society). 1848. “Discovery of Guiana,” by Musham (Hakluyt, II.). “Life of Sir Walter Raleigh,” by James Augustus St. John. 1868. APPENDIX. I. It would naturally be expected that in a work of this kind there should be some reference made to the long-pending discussion respecting the letter addressed by Amerigo Vespucci to Lorenzo de Medici, by which it would appear that Vespucci had visited the coast of _Pária_ in the year 1497--that is to say, in the year previous to that of the first visit of Columbus to the South-American continent; and that therefore, supposing this visit to be established, Amerigo Vespucci, and not Columbus, was the first European discoverer of the South-American continent. This question is one of the very first importance as regards history or geography; since on its solution depends not only the question after whom the great South-American continent should be called, but likewise the fair fame of Vespucci’s name.