The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-02-03

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On tue QNuk OIL tue SAIAuudu AAfNt
near what is now Silver Bluf, s, G.
sat bearded spanIard in full armor
He was enthroned upon rgaudy chair
OF state, and about him were grouped
his band OF hardy, trayel-Worn adyen.
turerB. Tie sman was Fernando de
Sot6s dlscoverer Of the Mississippi
river. His eyes and those OF his fol-
lowers we've just now liked upon a
strange fiotilla that was crossing the
river toward him. The foremost craft
was OF gorgeous color and twas pad.
died by eight whiGe.clad girls. On a
pile OF cushions in the stern, under a
gay awning, reclined a young and
beautiful woman. She. like all her
companions, was Of lighter color than
most Indians that De Soto had met.
She was attired in regal splendor.
Around her neck hung huge rope OF
pearls. In other canoes close behind
her followed retinue Of warriors and
courtiers, while the native village she
had just quilted was alive with eager
faces watching the progress Of their
princess,
The Pearl Necklace.
AS the canoe reached the further
bank the princess stepped ashore and
walked fearlessly forward to greet De
Soto. Bowling low before him, she gra-
ciously made the Spanish adventurer
welcome to her realm. She then un'
coiled the huge pearl necklace from
about her throat and threw 1t in a
shiny. circle oSer De soto's head. In
return the Spaniard drew from his fin-
ger a ruby ring and presented 1t to
her, saying through an interpreter,
that he should cherish the necklace
less for its own value than because
her hands had bestowed 1t upon him.
De Soto had come to North America
on a journey of exploration, hoping
also to find some such marvellous
wealth as the new world had lavished
upon Cortez and Pizarro. During his
wanderings northward he often heard
from Indians along the route of q
great princess, Cofachiqul by name,
who ruled the Cofachi tribe and was
incredibly rich in gold, silver and
precious stones. Like most Spaniards
of that day, De Soto and his men were
wildly excited over the .tidings of-Co-
fachlqui. They forced captured In.
dian to guide him to her chief village.
Arriving at The rivers bank opposite
this village on April 2s, 1910; De Soto
.sent wordthrough an jnterpretPr THAT
his party had come upon saa peaceful
mission and asked leave to 'pay, his re-
spects to the princess.
She obeyed the summons and made
the wanderers welcome to her land.
De Soto asked for food TO provision
hisa expedition She promptly granted
the request, and even invited him and
his men to cross the river and be tho
guests Of her village while the sacks
Of grain, etc, were collected, On RATS
De Soto, his fellow adventures Sand
their horses were ferried across toHthe
village: There the spaniard's sniask
Of courtesy seems to have been cast
aside. The sight of Cofachiqui's pearl
necklace had awakened in the adyen-
turers the typical Spanish craving for
plumber. De Soto ordered the princess
to produce all the precious metals the
village could boast.
She mcekly consented, and soon
long line OF Indians was bringing to
De soto's feet q vast quantity Of shin
ing yellow and Shtte metal. The Span
Iards crowded frantically around the
hoard: then with curses they spurned
1t from them. For the yellow metal
was nothing but copper, and the shin
ing white substance was sort OF tin.
The wanderers had not found the Fl
Dorado they had expected. And the
friendly Indians and, their princess
were made TO feel ths disappointed
mems anger. Y ~ 80
But the pearl necklace was proof
positive that there we're precious
stones IN the neighborhood. De Soto
ordered the princess to tell where.
these gems could be found. BY this
time Cofachiqui had learned that her
peaceful subjects we're no match for
tho grim, well armed spaniards. SO,
without resistance. she led the way to
a temple where the royal dead were
inferred. With each body was buried
a quantity Of pearls. The adventures
fell to eagerly ard looted the sacred
place Of It's treasure.
Unable 30 get rid OF her brutal
guests by force, Cofachiqui hit on a
clever trick for freeing her village Of
their presence. She told them that far
to the north lay n city SO full OF
wealth that her riches were worthless
in comparison. De Soto and his men
readily snapped at the bait, Leaving
the larger part OF their huge pearl
treasure behind, to be taken on the
return trip, they set off in haste for
the mythical treasure city.
De Soto at the last moment seems
to have suspected that the princess
story might not be true, for he sudden
ly ordered her. to accompany the expo
dltion as guide. The fair young
ruler protest ed In vain. But she would
not permit her Indians to fly to arms
in her behalf. Instead. she finally con!
sented to go, leading the line Of Span