Translating Sir Walter Raleigh and The discovery of the empire of Guiana

Abstract

The aim of this article is to comment on the translation of Sir Walter Raleigh’s travel account in the Amazon, which began six weeks prior to his arrival on the American continent, departing from England in February 1595. The author’s account stems from personal notes recorded through direct observation, contact with indigenous peoples, and trustworthy testimony from Christians. After a month venturing into the Amazon rainforest, Raleigh reached inhospitable territories—remote locations whose riches did not meet the expectations of the crown. Although criticized by the monarchy as a self-promotional endeavor, his journey sparked immense interest among readers. The translated fragment comprises five pages of the author’s travel narrative. The translation sought to preserve the style of the original text as well as maintain the heightened tone of the narrative. The adopted translation strategy considered the text’s narrative orientation, marked by political intentions, colonial representations, and naturalistic expressions.