Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1875-09-07
ELL DORADO.
PAPER NUMBER ONE.


first began 10 ueVelop ltseli aihonB
the Spaniards and other nations of
Europe, those who thirsted for ad-
venture and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT were
NOT content with the actual wou-
ders of the New World, but they
taxed their imaginations for the
creation of realms in which the
splendors of fairy-land were sur
passed. Various circumstances
contributed to add authority and
influence to these fables. The tale
that is oftentimes repeated general
ly comes to be regarded as, true,
particularly when the narrators are
skillful and have weighty reasons
for Disgusting the truth. These
were not wanting with regard to
the fable of Ell Dorado, or "the
golden region" 1t was currently
believed that somewhere in Guiana,
there existed kingdom, the wealth
of which surpassed that of any
known region on the face of the
globe. Along the whole coast of
the Spanish Main, it was believed
that, in the interior of the country,
there existed land whose impor-
tance and riches it was impossible
to exaggerate. These rnmors are
said to have reference to the king
dom of Bogota and Tunja, now
New Grenada. What was rather
singular with regard to Ell Dorado,
was, that the nearer adventures
approached to it, the farther off it
appeared to be. The Peruvians
had accounts of its existence in
the "Nuevo Reyno;" the adven-
turers of that country believed
that it existed in Peru. In fact it
appeared like the blessed isle of
Indian song, which fled the foot
steps of pursuers.
Imagination, however, soon sup
piled the proper data. Tired of
profitless wanderings, the gold
hunters fixed upon a certain region
lin Guiana), AS the locality of the
kingdom of Ell Dorado. Nor was
it very difficult matter to make
maps OF the country, to crowd 1t
with lakes and rivers, to refine its
inhabitants, to perfect its arts, and
to heighten its splendor. The
story ran thus: After the fall of
the Incas, a younger brother of
Atabalipa, collecting what treas
ures he could lay hands upon. fled
to an inland country, and founded
magnificent empire This poten-
tate was indifferently styled the
Great Paytiti, the Great Moxo. the
Epim or Great Paru. From inter-
ested motives, men of intelligence
and reputation scrupled not to con
firm the tales of this empire, and
lend the sanction Of their names to
the most absurd and puerile fic-
tions. Thus Sir Walter Raleigh,
aware of the important results of
colonizing Guiana, lured adven-
turers onward by displaying before
them the most enticing pictures of
the gilded monarch and his realm.
He even did not hesitate to attempt
to pass upon Queen Elizabeth, as
facts, the monstrous fables which
his heated mind was alone capable
of receiving.
One unblushing imposter asserted
that he had himself been in Manoa,
the capital of the imaginary kingdom,
and that in the street of silversmiths,
no fewer than three thousand work
men were employed. This traveller
was very minute in his details, and
produced map which he had pro-
jected, and which was marked with
the situation Of a hill of gold, one Of
silver and one of salt. The gorgeous
palace of the emperor was held on
high by magnificent and symmetri-
cal pillars of porphyry and alabaster,
and enriched by galleries which were
formed of ebony and cedar, curiously
wrought. About the period of
Raleigh's first expedition, it was be-
lieved at Paraguay that the court Of
the Great Moxo had been actually
discovered and visited. AT this time
the description of the interior varied
little fiom that which we have just
given. A vast lake of exquisite
transparency and softness reflected
the palace, which was built upon an
island in its centre. The material of
the edifice was snow. white marble of
a peculiar ,brilliancy. Two towers
guarded the entrance, standing on
each side of a superb column, which
shot up to the hight of twenty-five
feet, and bore upon its capital an i'm
mense silver moon, while two living
lions were attached by massive chains
of solid gold to its pedestal. These
animals, like the dragons of a fairy
tale, defended the entrance to place
which outshone the realms Of fairy
land. We know not whether an ac-
quaintance with magic was necessary
to quiet the vigilance of these wild
guards, or whether they were we'll
bred creatures, disposed to make al
lowances for the curiosity of visitors,
and permit them an easy entrance
into the palace of Fl Dorado. BE
that us it may, having passed those
guardA you entered a quadrangle,
where you could not fail to be de-
lighted with the freshness and shade
of the green trees, and the fragrant
'coolness and musical murmur Of a
silver fountain, which gushed and
CLEANED through four golden pipes.
A small copper gate, the bolt Of
which shot into a massive rock, hid
tho in<ar;or of tho noIaoa This