The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1912-08-09

but few days previously passed through Il
with large force OF foot and horse
Won Hutten, after serious dellberaton, con.
cluded to follow closely in the rear OF Que
sada in the hope OF sharing with him the
treasures Of El Dorado should he succeed
in discovering his whereabouts The march
OF both expeditions was through trackless
plains and woods, across impetuous rivers
and deep morasses, In tropic heat and tor
rental rains that were more than enough 90
depress the stoutest hearts But these
dauntless soldiers OF fortune pressed onward
fully convinced that they would eventually
find the object OF their quest After untold
trials and dangers Quesada at length reached
the Province of Papamene. at the headwa-
= ters OF the Caqueta or Japura, and thence
made his way 10 Popayan, whence he was
glad TO return 10 Bogota a wiser but
poorer man.
Won Hutton after following him 20 Timana,
near the crest OF the eastern Cordilera 10
the southeast OF Popayan, faced about and
directed his course toward the river Qua
Ware, on the banks OF which his Indian guide
had assured him was a great city called Ma
catoa the capital Of a region rich I'm gold
and silver AS an evidence OF the truth of
his story he showed the German leader sam
Piles Of gold fashioned In the form OF apples or
nisperos which he said, had been brought
from that city But before he could reach his
eagerly coveted goal the winter season came
on and the entire country was inundated
There was then nothing left for them 10 do
but seek higher ground and await the return
OF the dry season. But as the district I'm which
they took refuge was sparsely populated and
almost entirely destitute OF the means Of sub
sistence the intrepid explorers soon began 90
experince all the horrors Of famine. For a
while their chief sustenance was a mixture Of
maize and ants The ants were secured by
placing some maize near the opening Of an ant
hill and when IL was covered with these in
sects they consumed maize and insects togeth.
er and thus appeased their hunger But as
there was not enough OF this allment for all
many we're fain 10 appease the cravings Of
hunger by consuming grubs. beetles, or other
things equally disgusting In consequence Of
this their hair, boards and eyebrows fell OFF
Finally" writes Oviedo Y Banos "al we're
covered with pestiferous tumors and poisonous
ulcers, and that afflicted troop was converted
into a theater Of miseries and an hospital Of
msfortunes" When the inundatlon had sub
sided sufficiently 10 permit them 10 travel they
resumed their march and after long wander.
ing about in the wilderness they found them
selves again at Nuestra Sonora whence they
had departed a twelvemonth before
Their failure and hardships did not how
ever. cause them 20 abandon their enterprise
Far from IT, Their ardOr was az quenchless
and their determination 10 achieve success was
as strong az when they took their departure
from Coro The reported existence toward
the south Of a country aboundng In gold and
silver supplied them with a new clue and gave
zest 10 the expedition. After a long and peril
Gus march during which they passed through
the country Of the Uapes and visited their
caNtal Macatoa the brave and persevering
expeditioners reached the land Of the rich and
powerful Omaguas who inhabited the terri
tory between the Guaviare and the Caqueta,
that land which Wallace az late az 1853. call
ed the unknown regions between the Rio
Guaviare on one side and the Japura the
other"
Here from an elevated position the adven-
turers deserted what they fondy believed was
the goal which they had 80 long been striving
20 reach. II was q city go large that though
it was near az hand II extended beyond the
range Of vision. The streets we're straight
with the houses close together and IN tho
midst % all was an imposing edihce which
their Indian guide Informed them was the PAL
ace Of Quarca the lord of the Omaguas. The
structure also served az a temple IN which.
Won Huttens guide stated were idols ~ mas