The Elbert County tribune., 1912-05-31
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Atahualpa. and here it was. according to Castel-
lanos, where
An alien Indian hailing from afar
Who in the town of Quito did abide
And neighbor to be of Bogota,
There having come. know not by what way.
Did with him speak and solemnly
country rich in emeralds and gold
Also among the things which them engaged
certain king he told of who dsrobed.
Upon lake wont aboard a raft.
To make oblations, himself had seen,
on which was laid a coat of powdered gold
From sole of foot unto his highest brow.
Resplendent as the beaming of the
Arrivals without end he further said
Were there to make rich votive offerings:
OF golden trinkets and of emeraids rare
And divers other of their ornaments;
And worthy credence these things he affirmed;
The soldiers. light of heart and well content.
Then dubbed him Ell Dorado. and the
BY countless ways was spread throughout the world
According the chroncler. Juan Rodriguez
Fresle. who was Of of the conqusta-
dores of New Granada the lake which were
made these offerings OF gold and emeralds was
Guatayita, short distance to the northeast of
Bogota. And the of his information
specting the nature Of the ceremonies connected
with these offerings was he assures u.s. less
than one Don Juan, the cacique of Guatavita.
who was the nephew of the chief who bore sway
at the time OF the arrival of the Spaniards under
Jtminez de Quesada, and who even then pre-
pairing himself by six years fast to succeed
his uncle cacique of Guatavite. After this
long fast, which was made under the most trying
conditions. the successor to the cacqueship was
obliged to go to the lake OF Guatavita and offer
sacrifice to the devil.\ who. Fresle informs u.s.
was regarded by the aborignes their god and
master. After being stripped, he anointed
with viscous earth. which then overspread
with powdered gold in such wise that the chief
was covered with this metal from head to foot
He was then placed balso provided with a
great quantity of gold and emeralds, which he
was to offer to his god. Arriving the middle
ff loL Ln xrbi0
titude of men and women. shouting and playing
on musical instruments OF various kinds he made
his offering by throwing into the lake all the
treasure which he had at his feet. After this
ceremony was over he returned to the Shore
where. amid acclimation. music and rejoicing. he
was received as their legitimate lord and prince
From this ceremony, our author continues
was derived that name celebrated of 'El
Dorado which has cost SO many lives and
much treasure. 1t was in Peru that this name
Dorado first heard. Sebastian Belalcazar
having met near Quito an Indian from Bogota
who told him about the Gilded Man just de-
scrbed. exclaimed Let go in search OF that
gilded Indian" Hence the report of Ell Dorado
spread throughout CASTLE and the Indies
and Belalcazar moved to go In quest of him
he did, and hence also the cause of that cele-
brated meeting with Quesada and Federmann
which constitutes one of the most thrilling and
dramatic chapters in the history of the conquest
of New Granada.
The fact that only few years after the arrival
of Bealcazar at Bogota the Spaniards began to
make efforts to secure the gold and precious
stones which. according to tradition, were cast
into the sacred like of Guatavita by the Gided
King, is evidence that the statements OF Fresle
and other contemporary writer's regarding the
connection between this lake and Ell Dorado are
substantially true. For than three CEN
turtles attempts were made to drain the lake, with
a view Of securing the priceless treasures which
were supposed to be spread its bottom but
the success which attended the efforts of those
who had the matter in charge only partial
There were never sufficient funds available to
complete the work Of drainage until few years
ago. when the attempt again made by some
Englishmen. who are still engaged in the under