Mexico weekly ledger., 1912-12-12

Not only was the ceremonial of Guatavita par
ucularly elaborate, but 1t gave rise to the stories
Of III Dorado which so fired the imagination Of
the early conquerors and gave such an impetus
to the exploration of the interior. According to
Fresle. the population OF the neighborhood re-
paired to the sacred lake of Gnatavita clad in
their finest anne Of gold and feathers. In
Vulnerable s~acrificial fires were kindled on the
banks, and the lake was encircled with a cloud
OF incense. The ruler-elect was Invested Of his
garments, anointed with an adhesive earth. and
powdered with gold dust Attended by his four
principal sub-chiefs he embarked upon a reed raft
ornamented with gold dust and furnished with
four braziers for incense; at his feet was piled a
mound of gold and emeralds, and amid the shouts
of the multitude and the sound Of whistles and
other Instruments he proceeded to the middle Of
the lake. There he plunged into the waters and
washed off the offerings Of gold dust. and the
gold and emeralds we're thrown in at the same
time, the four chiefs making offerings on their
own account. The raft then returned and the
proceedings terminated with the revelry and
chicha drinking so dear to the heart Of the Co
lombians."
The chief with his ~gold-dust coat was in real
ity "El Dorado" the golden man of Spanish
legend and Indian history.
Splendid as were the ceremonies attending the
conservation Of the tribal chief at Guatavita, or
Guatabita, as Professor Joyce calls it, the ma
tional pilgrimages and feasts were still more
important. These pilgrimages were made Pc
riodically to all the chief lakes OF the country.
The northern Chibcha honored Guatavita almost
exclusively, while the southern tribes paid their
religious homage at Ubaque, south Of Bogota-
While the chiefs and mobiles we're throwing
their gold and jewels into the sacred waters. the
common people were burying, theirs by the side
Of the lake or in secret places not far removed
from the holy waters. Many curious bits OF Dot.
terry have been recovered from the neighborhood
OF the lake of Guatavita.
When Mr., Knowles came to America q short
time ago he brought with him many Of the
treasures that he had taken from the sacred
lake. Most OF the pieces are small. Whatever
may be their value as ancient pieces of handi-
craft, the emeralds are undoubtedly the richest
finds" in intrinsic worth.
M. de la Kier OF the Royal Institute Of Paris
Is quoted as estimating the probable value Of the
articles In the lake at several million English
pounds. But such estimates are, of course.
guesses. The bottom of the lake has not vel
been reached, and is still in a semi-liquid muddy
state. It is believed that the articles taken mi
to date we're thrown or buried in the sides of The
lake and have been. in the ages since. carried
toward the center by the pressure of the mud,
The number of pottery vessels found seems In
substantiate this view.
The work done by Mr.. Knowles companv-
which is incorporated in London under the name
VI NoAuactors, Lmited"-is but the Anal limb
IN a long chain of explorations that stretches
from the times of the spaniards down ID tba
present day. lug
In 1862 Antonio de Sepulveda of Santa IA do
boeota lowered the waters Of the lake to t8fteen
rect, or tnereabout, and is said to have taken out
great quantities of gold and an emerald Of rara
beauty. Sepulveda had made his attempt by al.
glng q trench, and before the work could he NJ.
ished the sides OF the trench cayed n ana ~
waters began to rise again, During tho tbrss
centuries that followed several attempts to drain
tne iake' always by means Of trenches cut from
above, were made and failed.
In 1897 a small company Of native enqineers
was formed and three years later sold ont ,ts
rignts 70 Hartley Knowles and his company.
had read about the legends of the eoldar
man, said Mr., Knowles, who stands sponsor eor
the foregoing history of the attempts n droin
the lake, and, being an engineer. I tbouebt :
should like to have a try. / have been worlirg
at It for twelve years. The lake ts drained as
dry as ] want It; If it is completely drained a.
mua az the bottom may solidify, and we do not
want tnat what we are after now is TO dig down
10 what was the bottom Of the lake $50 years ago
me present bottom Is, of course, a sediment ~
years The lake is cupshaped. It is ahon.
io,oOO feet above sea level in the Colombian
ANDES It took four years to drain the Iaka
Now we are excavating. ~
me government of Colombia has been MOST
klnd IN letting us make the excavations and take
out the things. OF course the interest that Al
taches to the treasure Is for aniquarians nm.
seums and collectors" ~
III