Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1912-05-31

one another is not surprising when we remember
that the Indians of Darien and Costa Rica long
before Francisco Pizarro's advent in Peru, were
aware of the wealth and the power of the Incas
in the remote south. And that there should have
been different accounts regarding the character
and place of abode of this marvellous savage is
what might have been expected by one who
knows how prone Indians are to exaggerate or
to modify what they have heard, SO as to suit
their own fancy. The same may in measure
be said Of the Spaniards also After the successes
achieved by their ccuntrymen in Mexico and
Peru and after the millions of treasure which
had been found in the lands of the Aztecs Chib-
chas and Jncas, they We're prepared for anything.
Nothing seemed impossible and no tale about
gded men golden palaces was so extravagant
as to be rejected as false. They were ready to
give full credence to even greater fctions than
the Golden Fleece the Apples of the Hesper-
ides and would not have been surprised to find
Ophir or Tarshish in the valleys of the Orinoco
the Amazon. The spirit of adventure and ro-
nance dominated everyone not only in the Indies
but in the mother country as well. For all this
Spanish nation" writes old chronicer lis
SO DESTROYS OF novelties that what way soever
they bee called with a becke only, or soft whis-
pering voyce, to anything arising above water,
they speedily prepare themselves to file and for
sake certainties under hope of an higher degree,
to follow Uncertainties, which we may gather by
that which is past
1t was vague and fantastic rumor like this
that lured Belalcazar from Quito 10 the Sabana
of distant Bogota where he met Quesada and
Federmann. According to the Indian from whom
the Spanish chieftain received his information,
the province of Ell Dorado called Cundiru-
marca and not more than twelve days dis
tant from Quito. This distance if the Indians
statement true, would preclude the plain OF
Bogota as the home of the Gilded Man. for it
impossible to reach this place in such linz
tied time Besides, Cundirumarca is Quichua
word, and could not it is asserted, have been
the name of province in New Granada where
the language of the Incas was unknown Despite
therefore, the positive statement OF Piedrahita
that the motive of Belaleazar's expedition to the
north the discovery of Ell Dorado and the
House of the Sun, II may be that the real reason
the desire on the part of Pizarros lieutenant
to cut loose from his chief and find a country
of which he himself might become the adelan
tado. Subsequent events and the Relation of his
desire to be appointed governor of Popayan give
color to this surmise.
Whether, however. Bealcazar misunderstood
ince of Cundrumarca, or whether he was merely
where he was overshadowed by Pizarro. it is GER
tain that the next expedition in search of Ell
Dorado. by some considered the first genuine ex-
petition in quest of the Gilded King was headed
for the eastern slopes of the Andes Instead of
for the northern plateau of New Granada The
country of the Gilded King, 1t was now thought
in the vicinity of the Land of Cinnamon
and preparations forthwith made to add
these rich lands to the possessions of the Span
ish crown