The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-02-08

search for this chimera more untiring
effort, military, ingenuity, endurance,
money, and human lives were expended
than upon any single enterprise of the
ancient or modern world. 1T became a
furore, a mad thirst which was further
infiamed by the appearance of extrava-
CANT books detailing the splendors of this
barbaric Cresus. Even the pious poet,
Milton gave full credenee to the myth,
while the Pope extended to the valiant
explorers his papal benediction. But the
mythical city of gold was never found.
1t was simply an Indian tradition, which
had come down through ages, gather
ing. like the rolling SNOWFALL increased
volume with each revolving generation,
until so contorted by exaggeration no
analogy could trace out its ancient origin.
But that it had foundation in fact
there is hardly any room to doubt, and
possibly arose from some of the lavish
splendors of one of the powerful In
dian empires long since extinct. Ger
tainly the legend long antedated the pc
riod of the conquest. and was probably
contemporary with that of the Amazons.
The tradition regarding that warlike
race of women. who have given their
name TO the river Amazon has always
been one of absorbing interest to anti
quarians. The legend is that common
place. in modern life and thought, that
we almost involuntarily apply the name
to any woman of unusual physical
strength and size The word amazon
means women without husbands" and
ii is not improbable that such COM
time. existed in the traditional region
assigned TO them. 1t is also possible in
the course of time, that they should have
erected a separate and distinct empire
dcmineered entirely by petticoats. and
in the natural course of events found
ii necessary to wage war to defend them
selves against the jealousies of their male
neighbors. These things are possible, and
probable but. in the course of many
generations, after the downfall of their
dynasty, the tradition. like that of Ell
Dorado gathered more vigor as it re-
ceded from that particular epoch and ut
the time of Columbus had assumed stu
pendous proportions. The ordinary wo-
man had grown into a giantess. who could
crush puny men in their single palm. They
swept. like a whirlwind. over the sur
rounding kingdoms, carrying death and
destruction in their path. The location
OF this tribe of Amazons is placed some
where about the rapids of the Oyapoc.
near the present southern boundaries Of
Venezuela 1t is claimed that once every
yea rthey invited the men of a powerful
neighboring tribe to visit them. and after
indulging them in Il prolonged and sump-
tuous feast Of month. they sent them
hack loaded with jade amulets as pres
ents BY this singular system OF free
love the Amazons perpetuated their spe-
cies. purging il Of all male offspring and
nurturing the females.
The origin Of the curious jade stone.
even If true. would leave US as much in
mystery as before How did it come to
the hands of the Amazons2 The stone
was greatly venerated by certain tribes
as possessing secret charm TO ward of
SPELLS. bring good luck and prevent sick
ness. Humboldt. who examined the true
jade stones There being numerous snuri-
Gus ones in circulation. declared that
they were rare and costly, but can
not account for their appearance on this
hemisphere II is beautiful dark green
stone capable Of beautiful polish. which
is never known 10 have been qUarried
outside, OF Asia. Its appearance in
Nicaragua and parts OF South America
M the tire OF the discovery suggests its
Importation from the orient a; some in
definite period OF the past. Some ex-
perts have declared that these jade ceits
are not the true Jade. but a common
feldspar OF an apple green color. This
would not dismiss the mystery. as the
latter class OF stones are said 10 be COM
mon only TO the Ural Mountains 1t Is