The Elbert County tribune., 1912-05-31

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 are to be found only in the old
Spanish chronicles, of which are compare
lively rare, while others, forgotten or unknown
have for centuries been buried in the dusty ar
chives of Spain and Peru and have only recently
been given to the press
Among the most important OF these chronicles
are the "Noticias Hstorales" of Fray Pedro
Simon. learned Franciscan monk who wrote
nearly three centuries ago, while some of the
conqustadores were still living and while the
memory of the events connected with the first
expeditions in quest of Ell Dorado was still fresh
in the minds of many of the survivors OF scarce
ly less value are the "Elegas de Varones Ilustres
de Indias" 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-
iscas and who knew personally many of the most
celebrated of the adventures who had taken
part in the search for the Gilded King on the pla-
teau Of Cundinamarca and in the sultry IowIands
of the Meta and the Guaviare.
But although these and similar Invaluable
works bearing the expeditions in quest of the
Gilded King have appeared in Spanish. compara-
lively little of the information contained in them
has yet made its way into English. This
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 classed among those
who sought for Ell Dorado when, as a matter of
fact, during their time had even heard of
this mythical parsonage.
1t is 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, which shall embody the re-
suits of the most recent researches in Spain and
Latin America, is certainly desideratum in the
history of the conquest and of the exploration
Of the northern portion of sister continent
For the years devoted to the quest OF the Cilded
King not only years crowded with Incl
dent. streaked with tragedy. stained by crime,
darkened by intrigue" but they also years
during which the amazing audacty the match
less prowess and the thrilling heroism of the
conquistadores were seen at their best. And the
study of these years will show that the prime
of the Spaniards in their extraordinary
adventures not only thirst for gold as is
often asserted. but that behind 1t all was a
love of glory and of patriotism which
impelled them to make sacrifices and to under
men OF degenerate age would recoil with
horror.
1t was in 1885 that rowing Indian first told
the Spaniards the story of the gilded chieftan
to whom they forthwith gave the name of Ell Do
rado--the Gilded Man King--a ma which
was subsequently applied not only to the gilded
chief himself. but also to the city wherein he
supposed reside. and to the province
which he bore rule. and to the lake on which
his capital said to be located. At that time
Sebastian Belacazar. the lieutenant OF Francisco
Pizarro. was in Quito. whittier he had gone after