The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-17

springs. The impression made upon the
Spanish conduerors by the aspect Of the country
is Indicated In the following passage uuoted
from Acosias chronicle: d" Now they were in
the plain Of. Bogota. and on all sides saw the
estntcs and villages commanded by tho high
habita'iors ~ the Caziuues. which were dis
tingui,hcd by a palisadc surrounding them.
the stakes painted incarnndine. and the door
posts cased with plates Of god-dstnguishcd
also by the broad and perfectly strategic high
road which led from the palisades to some
distance and on which religious ceremonies
were celebrated. The plain had the appear.
ancc Of garden dotted with towers
The Inhabitants OF the Chibcha country APP
pcared more civilized in the eyes of the in
vnders than the people Of the coast plains. be-
cause they went about dressed. either from a
feeling Of shame or. what is more probable. on
account of the climate. The men wore n sort
of coat or tunic. reaching n little below tho
knees. and made generally OF cotton from
which. as We have mentioned. the Chibchas
wove excellent cloth. These coats were CONF
monty white. but noblcmcn had their garments
painted black or In bright colors The square
mantcs which served the men as cloaks wcro
also Of cotton. On the head they wore casaues.
or helmets. made Of the skins OF fierce animals.
adorned with feathers. The women used a
square foue, lhsteHeu 10 inc plfule Dy u hrOhu
band while over the shoulder they wore an
other smaller mantle. caught together ut
the breast with large pin Of gold or sill
yer. The men wore the hair down the shout
ders and froc and the women were so fond of
having il long and black. that they used certain
herbs to make II grow. and also strong black
dyes The greatest aifront that could bc put
upon man or woman was to have their hair
cropped by order Of the Cazlue. II is also
worth noting that the women wore on their
heads garands OF artificial roses and other
flowers. made of cotton Of several colors.
Both men and women 81 tho higher classes
wore many Jewels and ornaments. Among the
valuable articles found by the invaders Father
Simon mentions cmeralds. gold medals. golden
scrp"nts and eagles. n!trcs and croziers OF gold,
creScents. bracelets. rings. and beetle-shapcd
figures Of the same metal. Al one place Her
radia and his companions found in temple
figure of gold representing a porcupine this
had weight Of five arrobas and half. and was
the most cons dcrable piece found in New Ora
NADIA during the conquest. The Spaniards took
il away. says the chronicle. protesting that they
could not bear such bestidl idolatri,s. In the
temple ut league the invaders obtained tho
image Of boy about three years old holding
stone for grinding maize. the whole OF massive
gold. III one Of the rooms Of tho same tcmplc
an immense store OF fire gold was found in the
shape OF ineots. tiles aud figures Of men. birds,
srrpcnts. and insects. We may add that the
Chibchas used round tiles Of gold uns,amped.
but II a hAcd size. for money. There Is little
doubt that the large use Of the precious metals
among the Chibchas gave rise 10 those reports
of I'll Dorado which, transmitted down the Mag
daena and Oronoka rivers Ia the Caribbean
coast and lingering among the natives Of that
rp1.i4u aA t.rtfuerI traditions NJ IA,
Spanish conquest Of Bccota. excited the cupid
ity u adventures. and prompted among other
expeditions that Of Sir Walter Raleigh.
II we except their textile industry. the Chip
chas seem TO have achieved only moderate adj
vance in the mechanical arts. They made salt
and soap. and distilled from maize a species Of
whskcy. They could cast. mould. solder, and
perhaps beat gold and silver. but it is not Ger
tain whether they were acquainted with copper.
la founding they made use If small stoves. and
there Is reason 10 think that the Peruvian canes
or similar appliances for blasting were also en-
ploycd. Ihoy used no irpn lead. or tin. a.
though the TWO former metals abounded in their
country. Tho methods and implements en-
plcyed are is completely unknown a. those OF
the rcruvian- in the Incha period. There is
some ground for surprising the Chibchus to
have worked with other than stone implements.
There are =, ii to b. IN certain districts traces
Of wrought stones, and Humboldt describus a
head engraved on green quartz. which was
probably done 10y a tool Of copper and tin. and
must. al all events be looked upon as a 1uc
specimen Of work in stone
There j. no doubt that Mr. Spencer has coll
le'ted larger amount " Information regard
ing prehistoric Ameri AN civilizations than has
hitherto been accessible in any quarter. In the
preparation If this volume not lrs, than li3