Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1912-12-06

Not only was the ceremonial of Guatavita par
tfcuarly elaborate, but it rise to the stories
of Ell Dorado which fired the imagination OF
the early conquerors and gave such impetus
to the exploration of the interior. According to
Fresle, the population of the neighborhood re-
paired to the sacred lake of Guatavita clad in
their finest ornaments Of gold and feathers. In
Vulnerable sacriicial fires were kindled on the
banks, and the lake encirced with cloud
Of incense. The ruerelect Invested of his
garments, anointed with an adhesive earth, and
powdered with gold dust. Attended by his four
principal sub-chiefs he embarked upon reed raft
ornamented with gold dust and furnished with
four braziers for Incense at his feet was piled
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 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 revery and
chicha drinking so dear to the heart Of the Co.
lombians."
The chief with his gold-dust coat in real
ity eel Dorado the golden of Spanish
legend and Indian history
Splendid as were the ceremonies attending the
conservation of the tribal chief at Guatavita or
Guatabta, as Professor Joyce calls it, the me-
tional pilgrimages and feasts still
important. These pgrimages were made pc.
riodically to all the chief lakes of the country.
The northern Chbcha honored Guatavita almost
exclusively, while the southern tribes paid their
religious homage at Ubaque, south of Bogota.
While the chiefs and mobiles were throwing
their gold and jewels into the sacred waters the
common people were .burying theirs by the side
of the lake in secret places not far removed
from the holy waters. Many curious bits of pot
terry have been recovered from the neighborhood
Of the lake of Guatavita
When Mr.. Knowles came to America short
time ago he brought with him many of the
treasures that he had taken from the sacred
lake. Most of the pieces small Whatever
may be their value as ancient pieces of handi.
craft, the emeralds are undoubtedly the richest
finds" in intrinsic worth.
NJ de la Kier of the Royal Institute of Paris
is quoted 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 yet
been reached. and is still in a semi-liquid muddy
state. 1t is believed that the articles taken out
to date were 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 tn
substantate this view.
The work done by Mr. Knowles companv-
which is Incorporated in London under the name
of contractors, Limited"-is but the final link
In a long chain of explorations that stretches
from the times of the Spaniards down to the
present day.
In 1862 Antonio de Sepulveda of Santa Fe dc
Bogota lowered the waters of the lake to fifteen
feet, or thereabout, and is said to have taken ont
great quantities of gold and an emerald of rare
beauty Sepulveda had made his attempt by dig.
ging trench. and tefore the work could be fin.
ished the sides of the trench caved in and the
waters began to rise again. During the three
centuries that followed several attempts to drain
the lake, always by means Of trenches cut from
above were made and failed.
In 1897 small company of native engineers
was formed and three years later sold out its
rights to Hartley Knowles and his company
i had read about the legends of the golden
man." said Mr.. Knowles who stands sponsor for
the foregoing history of the attempts to drain
the lake. land. being an engineer thought
should like to have try. / have been working
at 1t for twelve years. The lake Is drained as
dry as want It; If 1t is completely drained the
mud at the bottom may solidify, and we do not
want that. What are after now is to dig down
to what was the bottom of the lake $50 years ago
The present bottom is. of course a sediment OF
years The lake is cup-shaped. It is about
10000 feet above sea level in the Colombian
Andes 1t took four years to drain the lake
Now we are excavating
The government of Colombia has been mos,
kind in letting make the excavations ard take
out the things OF course the interest thai a.
taches to the treasure is for aniquarians nu
seums and collectors"