The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-10-05
FfOn5 GIedSOp'S Pictorial.
ELDORADO.
No. II.
BY THOMAS BULFINCH.


Of preservation was in continuing their
descent Of the river, and leaving the par
ty under Pizarro to their fate. He then
formally renounced the commission which
Pizarro had given him, and received the
command anew from the election of his
men; that so he might make discoveries
for himself and not holding deputed
authority, in the name Of another. It
was upon the last day of December, l541,
that this voyage was begun; one of the
most adventurous that has ever been un
dertaken. The little stock of provisions
with which they had parted from the army
was already exhausted, and they boiled
their leathern girdles and the leather of
their shoes with such herbs as seemed
most likely to be nourishing and harm
less, for it was only by experiment that
they were able to distinguish the whole
some from the poisonous. On the 9th of
January, being reduced almost to the
last extremity with hunger, they heard
before daylight an Indian drum; joyful
sound; for be the natives. what they would,
friendly or hostile, this they knew, that
it must be their own fault now if they
should die of hunger. At daybreak, be-
ing eagerly upon the lookout, they per
ceived four canoes, which put back upon
seeing the brigantine; and presently they
saw village Whero great body of the
natives were assembled and appeared
ready to defend it. The Spaniards were
too hungry to negotiate Orellana bade
them land in good order aud stand by
each other They attacked the Indians
ike men who were famishing and fought
for food, put them speedily to the roate,
and found an immediate supply. While
they were enjoying the fruits Of their vic
tory, the Indians came near them, more
10 crafty curiosity than resentment
Orellana spoke to them in some Indian
language, which they partly understood.
Some of them took courage and ap-
proacLed him. He gave them few Eu-
ropean trifcs, and asked for their chief,
who came without hesitation, was well
pleased with the presents which we're
given him, and offered them anything
which it was in his power to supply
Provisions were requested, and presently
peacocks, partridges, fish and other things
we're brought in great abundance. The
next day thirteen chiefs came to see the
strangers. They were gaily adorned
with feathers and gold, and had plates of
gold upon the breast. Orellana received
them courteously, required them to ac-
knowledge obedience to the crown of
CASTLE, took advantage as usual of their
ignorance to affirm that they consented.
and took possession Of their country in
the euperors name.
Such is Orellana's owD account of this
first interview. It was his object to Gre
ate high idea of the riches of the prov
inces which be had discovered. It's not
probable that these tribes had any gold,
for later discoveries showed that none of
the tribes OF the Amazon were so far ad-
vanced as to use it. 1t was here that
they heard the first accounts Of the rich
and powerful nation, composed wholly Of
women, whom, in recollection Of the fe-
male warriors of classic antiquity, they
called the Amazons. Here the Spani-
ards built better brigantine than the
frail one in which they were embarked
All fell to work, Orellana being the first
at any exertion that was required. They
caulked it with cotton, the natives sup
piled pitch, and in thirty-fye days the
vessel was launched. On the gath Of A
pril they once more embarked. For
eighty leagues the banks were peopled
with friendly tribes, then the course of
the river lay between desert mountains,
and they were fain to feed upon herbs
and parched corn, not even finding a
place where they could fish.
Thus far they seem to have found the
natives friendly or not actively hostile;
but as they descended they came to a
popolous province belonging to chief
called Omagua, if, as is conjecutured, that
is not rather the name of the tribe itself
than of their chief One morning a feet
Of canoes was seen advancing with hostile
demonstrations. The Indians carried
shields made Of the skins of the alligator
! They came on with beat Of tambour and
with war cries, threatening to deyour the
strangers. The SpaniardS brought their
two vessels close together that they might
aid one another in the defence; but when
thew came to use their powder it was
damp, aDd they had nothing but their
bows to trust to, and plying these
as we'll as they could, they continued to
fall down the stream, fighting as they
went. Presently they came to an Indian
town. Half the Spaniards landed to at
tack it, leaving their companions to main.
tain the fight upon the water,
They won the town and loaded them
selves with provisions, but eighteen OF the
party were wounded and one killed.
They had neither surgeon nor any RENE
dy for the wounded Nothing could bt
done for them except "psalming;" that is
repeating some verses of the psalms over
tho wound This mode of treatment wa.