The Sun.
London, England, 1826-08-03 00:00:00

LAKE GUATAVITA.

We copy from the Constitutionnel, the following
extract of a .private letter, relative to' the long at-
tempted object of draining this Lake, for the discovery
of treasures supposed to be at its iwitom, having been
accomplished by Captain CitAiti.ta CocilitANE, and
a company of English Adventurers:—.

• •(From the Colistitutionnel.)
BOGOTA, March 9.—(Extraet Of a priVate letter.)—We
have learnt here this "vet'', day, that the famous lake
Onativita, has been completely drained ; and. consequently
the agents 'of .Captain Charles Cochrsne, of the English
Admiralty, and other persons interested in this great en-
terprise, have set out in great haste to receive in person
their respective shares of the immense wealth which it is
expected will be recovered from the bottom of the lake.
An emerald of immense magnitude ,has been already
discovered, inclosed in a large figUre of pure gold, with a
great number of golden images, near the banks of the lake.
• You will be, no doubt, curious to learn the history of
this celebrated lake. It is as follows :.--Before the con-
quest of this country by the Spaniards, there were about
two thousand inhabitants under the, dominion of the
Cacique, or Chief of Guatavita, who resided in a large
city, and kept on foot an 'army of 40,000 men. He was
much beloved by all his neighbouring tribes, who, in ex-
change for wheat and. other provisions, • gave him great
quantities of gold dust. and precious stones, particularly-1
emeralds. The lake is situated on the summit of a
about ten thousand feet above thelmrface'of the sea, and
this mountain is reputed by the natives as the residence
of their tutelar deity, to whom they used to make offer-
inqs twice a-year; on which occasion, the Cacique, all the
chiefs, and such of the inhabitants as accompanied him,
after the performance of certain solemn ceremonies, were
in the habit of Ihrowing,, to as great a distance as they
could, immense richeit,into this lake, supposing that they
thereby madentonement for all the sins of which. they had
been guilty the precedingsix months.
According to calculations made by a learned man
named Kier, who has carefully examined all the'docuthents
which he could procUre, respecting the lake, it is supposed
that they Must have buried there, both in gold.and pre-
eiotis stones, to the amount. o'2B Milliara of francs. At
the Colititteßt of the place, by the riatfiards, the lattivel
-ware so eroaliy persecuted. tot rteconnt .10.5Abefrophj. they
threw nil the temeity.ter of their vretsAthitl4l the 141‘e, e
are assured that the Cacique alone threw as much gold-
dust as fifteen persons could carry, into it. The Spaniards
Made several attempts to drain the lake, mid had got within
fourteen feet of the bottom, when the banks fell in, but
they had then found a quantity* of gold images, and they
sent to Madrid an emerald valued. at 100,000 dollars.
Since that period nothing had been done till the arrival of
Captain Cochrane' here, about three years Ago. lie
formed a Company to dram it. The-success of the enter-
prise indueed.,(„iloveOptlem, sevd a strong,4tacinnent
troops to :stirronini, the . lake, ttlla;,prgyetA the, company,
from. being deprived of the ipmenve Arewoures „which they
immediately at the bottoM..
Besides having the largest share in this speculation,
Capt. Cocl;raue is interested in two silver mines, which
are now being explored, with great hopes of. advantage;
and he has also a third of the proceeds of a great copper
mine in the valley of Arroa. This Mine IS the most sin-
gular, and the richest in the world. It is an immense
copper mountain, capable of supplying the wants of
all the world. The produce As inure than, 60 per
cent., whilst the English mines do not return
more than 10 per cent. The Company, which consists
principally of Capt. Cochrane-and different branches of
his family, is now embarking from Porto Cabello, with
immense quantities of'unwrought coppei', to be transport-
ed' into England, where it is to be manufaCtured. The
copper is reckoned the purest that baa been ever known ;
,told. has been used in casting all. the artillery cannon Dow
at. Cadiz.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE•

LLOYIY.--(Tnis DAT.)

DIAL, AV(1; N.N.E.--Arrived and remain, the
Heighington, Purvis, from Demerara. •
Powrsmotrot, Atm. S.E.-...Arrived the Roxburgh
Castle, from China and, Quebec. , Sailed from the latter place
27th June, and the Danube, Sturgess, from Boston, in la days.
Arrived H.M.S. Harrier, from Cork, with specie for London.
Sailed H.M.S. Cutters Starling, Highflyer, and Scorpion, on a
cruise.
PLT1,191;14 Acts.` I.—Wind B.—Arrived the Comparable,
Wise, from Charleston. Sailed the Priam, Smith, for Miramichi.
FALMOUTH; Atm. I ....Variable w i !Att.—No arrivals or tailings.
Llvkitroot., Aon. I.—Wind N.N.W.--Arrived the Montague,
Walker, front Jamaica; Ipalestris, Stewart, from Tortola; Ann,
Brown, from Hamburgh ; Aimwell, Sheldon, and 'Maria, Doro-
thea, from Dtititzip.

ltfmtc,:A.,rtcf Aua. 2.-93 bars, 89 flats, and 3 palms of iron,
were landed here, yesterday from the wreck on the Girdler ; there
is no probability that any more .if the cargo will he recovered.
iluasoa; JULY 23._ The Cicta, EchevArria, which sailed 2lat
instant, for Lotulon, has put back, having been plundered of sails
by a Colonahian privateer, ,
GUIRA.T.,TAA, N 4.141411 brig llifationtede,l Car,
men, from (;adz to thisitort, detained by the Republicaue, Co.
loinbiati privateer, has been, released by her... AArtmsport.is cant-
ing in from the eastward,. • .

KIN/,STOW (JAMAIgA), Jl3 the.. 19th, hi. Ali-
jest)'s packet Hope,- Capt, Wright, arrived.frotu Falmouth in
thirty-two days, fist front B 4 rbiajoefl in nine days. Sailed on
the 19t111.110brig4fot‘tosp,,Erskioe, for London. About .500 miles
front Scilly, the Hope spoke-the Zephyr packet, Lieut. Church,
out 70 days from the Brazils, having on,board:upwardt of 20
passengers ; the Hope supplied her with time fresh stock and
water,

_ ~..,..
11U3SIAN:,1404N, WRGOCIATED BY Ma. N, M,,
vs LoNDOI4.---Ishe Half-yearly Dividend on the
above Loan, which beeennespditvieidoeliinwidaaryratllites::titohf
September next, will h 9 paid by Mr 3 N. M. ROPIIS
Onto) on that and every speeeeding day, between
tNhoe.ho2trNs
New Court.-._
etennutta.LdTthweo, at his Counting-bona!,
a list thereof, in numerical order, must be left one
day previous to payment, for the furP4e Ai: being
examme4 7

day thp Earl and Countess ml 4 Lady G.
Bathurst left the. Earl Of Harcourt's seat, 'St. Leonard's,
for their seat in Glutivestershire.