The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1911-06-17

pressive. We forded rushing, tumbling noun
tain streams, looking like cascades Of silver
and we rode through silent Indian villages
where the Inhabitants were sleeping in front
Of their strange little bamboo huts. The only
sound to break the silence was the plaintive
call of the whippoorwill.
We reached the village Of San Lucas, on the
borders Of the lake, and there we found 10
readiness the little steamer which was to
take US across to the hotel on the opposite
shore, trip Of an hour and half.
Words are Inadequate to portray the scene
which was before u.s. The great expanse OF
water lay like molten silver in the moonlight,
the mountains, solemn and aweinspiring,
standing in serried ranks like giant sentinels
to guard this treasure soft, pearly mist
hung over all, but not 30 dense as to hide
the perfect outline of the three great volca-
noes-the two Atit1ans and San Pedro. These
stupendous giants rise to the height OF nearly
$4,000 feet and fall in one unbroken sweep to
the waters edge.
In this peaceful spot the days slip by I'M
needed. The world and its busy life beyond
the towering mountains Is forgotten and we
drift out upon sea of romance and poetry.
There are many delightful excursions to be
made in the vicinity, eleven quaint Indian vii
lagos, named after the apostles, dotting the
shores: considerable commerce is carried on
the steam launch makes the round Of the lake
regularly twice a week. The town of Atitlan
is very picturesquely situated on bay run
ming inland between the two volcanoes-San
Pedro and Atitlan. Not far away, snuggled
close to the waters edge at the foot Of Att
Ian, is the "Cerro del Oro'-Mountain OF Gold
where great treasure is believed by the
natives to lie buried, and the ruins of an old
fort can be vaguely discerned.
Two thousand feet above the lake Is che
large town of solola, capital of the province
of the same name and a center of commerce.
Here is obtained fine view of the surround
ing country, but by far the most beautiful is
that from the height Of Goodness. We find our
selves at an altitude OF 5000 feet and the
whole world appears to lie before us. It is
true we have not the snow peaks OF Switzer
land but instead Is the unusual spectacle OF
range after range Of mountains on all Sides
dominated by the majestic heads OF great vol
canoes, seven In all. magnificent in their
imposing grandeur and jealousy guarding the
beautiful lake, which, like great sapphire,
lies 5000 feet below.
The flmy veil Of mist which is Characters
tic Of this region during the greater part OF
the year occasionally melts away and as we
stood on this spot, speechless before the won
der OF this panorama, it seemed for our ben
eft alone to have crept silently away in the
night, and earth and sky and water were per-
fectly revealed, outlying each other In deepest
tones of blue.
But even as we gazed soft clouds formed in
the valleys below and crept stealthily up
writhing and twisting like great white snakes,
until once more they had encircled the noun
tains like giant serpents whose power even
the great hills could not withstand
Nature seemed to say that we had looked
already too long upon her secret treasures,
and softly but swiftly she again drew around
them the gauzy mantle in which, except at
rare intervals, she keeps them wrapped.