Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-18
TREASURES OF GOLD.
Priceless Antiquities From Colombia for the
Worid's Fair.

WOrk0'o EA1r.
Lieut. Il. R. Lemly of the United State.
army, the special commissioner to the republic
OF Colombia in the interest Of the worlds Co
lumbar exposition, reports that he has
secured for exhibition a most remarkable col.
lection of antiquities, which has been gathered
by famous collector of that country during
Investigations for the last thirty-iive or forty
years The collection includes many articles
OF gold and silver, Of an intrinsic value OF
S35, 900, and the whole collection Is estimated
to be worth $780, 900.
Included in the above are the results of some
recent discoveries. Near the little village of
Finlandia, situated in the valley of the River
vieja, in the republic of Colombia, were un-
earthed some weeks ago two ancient towns of
the Guaca Indians, in which we're found more
than 200 pounds of gold, consisting princi-
pally of very curiously hand-worked articles
Senior ramon Maria, an authority on this sub
Ject, makes the following statement about
them in the last number OF the Correo Naciondl,
the leading journal of Bogota.
The small jewelry consists of alleGorical
representations of animals Of all kmds-butter-
nies, birds, lizards, toads fishes. snails, DC.
Most OF II Is in the form of massive gold idols,
with insisnias and allegories, such as scepter,
OF gold, representing in their handles crowned
eagles and other birds also wearing crowns
utensils Of gold for domestic use; musical in
struments, some in the form of cornet, whose
notes can be heard a long distance, and, in fact,
such large variety of forms and sizes that it
would be difficult to enumerate them. Some
pieces Of fine gold have been found weighing
sOO castellanos, others 200, $50, &c. "a ''cas-
teilano Is said to be one-hundredtn OF Span
ish pound or II Troy grains.)
Ally attention was specially called to a gold
sccpter, whose handle represented very finely
worked group and showip~ very artistic idea.
upon the wrist, 80 to speaL. Of the staff rested
two large apes, one of which had upon its Shout
ders a small monkey. An eagle very delicately
modelled clasped between its claws this monkey
and the two apes enlaced with the extremities
OF their tails the feet of the eagle. Another
very striking object was massive gold idol, to
which my attention was called on account of
Its strange shape, having a quaint crown set
over an irregular face. two wings, a breast
plate IL relieve. massive legs, above them .
cask and in each hand wand. l was not aware
that the Indians had idols winged like angels.
AS for the ceramic portion Of this discovery
1t would require special knowledge of the sub
Ject III order to give an adequate description of
such variety of forms, sizes. figures and
shapes seen in the different vases and articles
There were figures with holes through which
breath would cause a sound, and one could
initiate the notes of different birds. There
were also plates craven with designs and HER
oglyphics, having handle in the form of a
stamp, which printed very perfectly, also CYL
inflers engraved upon their entire circumfer-
ence."