The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-09-28
F0n1 GlcaSO1a'S Pictorial.
ELDORADO.
No. /.
BY THOMAS BULFINCH.

Sucn country, ana II there Is, where
it! The name literally means 'The Gold
en- Country, and was given to an un
known region in South America, by tn
Spandards; who had heard from the In
dians marvellous tales of such land ly
ing in the interior of the continent, where
gold and precious stones were as common
as rocks and pebbles in other countries
and to be had for the trouble of picking
them up. 1t was also land of spices
and aromatic gums. The first notion ot
this favored region was communicated by
an Indian chief to Gonzalo Pizarro,
brother Of the conqueror of Peru, whose
Imagination was captivated by the ac-
count, and his ambition fired with a de.
sire to add this which promised to be the
most brilliant of all, to the discoveries
and conquests of his countrymen. He
found no difficulty in awakening kind
red enthusiasm in the bosoms of his fol-
lowers. In short time he mustered $50
Spaniards and 1000 Indians. One hun
dred and fifty Of his company were
mounted. The Indians were to carry the
baggage and provisions, and perform the
labors of the expedition.
A glance at the map of South Ameri-
ca will give US clear idea Of the scene
of the expedition. The river Amazon, the
the largest river of the globe, rises in the
highest ranges of the Andes, aud flows
from west to east through nearly the
whole breadth of the continent. Pizarro's
expedition started 0540) from Quito
near the sources of the great river, and
marching east, soon became entangled in
the deep and intricate passes of the noun
tains. As they rose into the more eleva-
ted regions, the icy winds that swept
down the sides of the Cordilleras benum-
bed their limbs, and many of the natives
found wintry grave in the Wilderness
On descending the eastern slope, the eli
mate changed; and as they came to a
lower level, the fierce cold was succeeded
by an suffocating heat, while tempests of
thunder and lightning poured on them
with scarcely any intermission day or
night. For more than six weeks the del
uge continued unabated, and the forlorn
wanderers, wet and weary with incessant
toll, were scarcely able to drag their
limbs along the soil broken up and satu-
rated with the moisture. After months
Of toilsome travel they reached the region
where grew the spice trees. Their pro-
duce resembled the cinnamon of the East
in taste, but was Of inferior quality. They
saw the trees bearing the precious bark,
spreading out into broad forests, yet how
ever valuable it might be for future COM
merce, it was of but little worth to them.
But from the savages whom they occa-
sionally met, they learned that at ten
days distance, was rich and fruitful
land, abounding with gold and inhabited
by populous nations. The Spaniards
we're so convinced of the existence of
such country that, if the natives on be-
ing questioned, professed their ignorance
of it, they were supposed to be desirous of
concealing the fact, and were put to the
most horrible tortures, and even burnt a.
live to compel them to confess. 1t is no
wonder therefore if they told, in many
such stories as the SpaniardS
wished to hear, which would also have
the effect of ridding their own territories
OF their troublesome guests. by inducing
them to advance further Pizarro had
already reached the limit originally pro-
posed for the expedition but these accounts
induced him to continue on.
AS they advanced, the country spread
out into broad plains terminated by
forests, which seemed to stretch on every
side as far as the eye could reach. The
wood was thickly matted with creepers
and climbing plants, and at every step of
the way they had to hew open a passage
with their axes, while their garments,
rotting from the effects of the drenching
rains, caught in every bush and hung "a
bout them in shreds. The provisions
failed, and they had only for sustenance
such herbs and roots as they could gather
in the forest, and such wild animals as,
with their inadequate means, they could /
capture.
At length they came to a broad cx-
panse of water, from whence flowed
stream, one OF those which discharge their !
waters into the great river Amaz The
sight gladdened their hearts, as they
hoped to find safer and more practica-
Die route by keeping along its banks.--
After following the stream a considera-
Die distance, the party came within hear
ng of rushing noise, that seemed like
hunder issuing from the bowels of the
,arth. The river tumbled along over
'apids with frightful velocity, and then
discharged itselfin magnificent cataract,
which they describe as 1900 feet high
Doubtless this estimate must be taken
With some allowance for the excited feel
ngs of the Spaniards, keenly alive to i'm
,ressions of the sublime and the terrible.
For some distance above and below the
alls, the bed of the river contracted, SO
hat its width did not exceed twenty feet.
they determined to cross, in hopes of
hiding country that might afford them
,etter susteDance. A frail bridge was
onstructed by throwing trunks of trees
cross the chasm, where the cliffs, as if
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