The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-05-30

episode of the conquest of South America One
reason for this lies in the fact that the most
authentic and elaborate accounts of these stir
ring enterprises to be found only in the old
Spanish chronicles, some of which are compare
lively rare, while others, forgotten unknown,
have for centuries been buried in the dusty
chives of Spain and Peru and have only recently
been given to the press
Among the most important of these chronicles
are the "Noticias Historiales" of Fray Pedro
Simon, learned Franciscan monk, who wrote
nearly three centuries ago, while some of the
Conquistadores were still living and while the
memory of the events connected with the first
expeditions in quest of El Dorado was still fresh
in the minds of many of the survivors. OF scarce
ly less value are the "Elegas de Varones Ilustres
de Irdias" and the Historic del Nuevo Reno
de Granada" by Juan de Castellanos, the poet
priest and historian of the conquest, who had
served with distinction under JimineZ de Que
sada in his celebrated campaign against the Mu-
tscas and who knew personally many Of the most
celebrated of the adventurers who had taken
part in the search for the Gilded King on the pa-
teau of CundinamarCa and in the sultry lowlands
of the Meta and the Guaviare.
But although these and similar invaluable
works bearing on the expeditions in quest of the
Gilded King have appeared in Spanish, compare
lively little Of the information contained in them
has yet made its way into English This ex-
plains the numerous errors that are found in
what has hitherto been written on the subject
and why many adventurers like Antonio Sedeno.
Diego de Ordaz. Nicolas Federmann and others
of their contemporaries are cassed among those
who sought for Ell Dorado when, as matter Of
fact, during their time one had even heard of
this mythical parsonage
1t is a pity that those who love the curious
and romantic phases of history have not given
more attention to the interesting episode of Ell
Dorado. An exhaustive and authoritative work
on the subject, one which shall embody the re-
suits of the most recent researches in Spain and
Latin America, is certainly a desderatum in the
history of the conquest and of the exploration
of the northern portion of our sister continent
For the years devoted to the quest Of the Gilded
King were not only years crowded with Incl
dent, streaked with tragedy, stained by crime,
darkened by intrigue" but they were also years
during which the amazing audacity, the match
less prowess and the thrilling heroism of the
conouistadores were seen at their best. And the
study of these years will show that the prime
mover of the Spaniards in their extraordinary
adventures was not only thirst for gold as Is
so often asserted but that behind II all was
love Of glory and a sense Of patriotism which
impelled them to make sacrifices and to under
take enterprises before which even the braVest
men of our degenerate age would recoil with
horror.
1t was in 1885 that rowing lDdian first told
the Spauiards the story of the gtldRd chiefta1n
to whom they forthwith gave the name of Ell Do
rado-the Gilded Man King-a name which
was subsequently applied not only to the gded
chief himself, but also to the city wherein he was
supposed to reside, and to the province over
which he bore rule, and to the lake which
his capital was said to be located. At that time
Sebastian Belalcazar the lieutenant of Francisco
Pizarro. was in Quito, whittier he had gone after