Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1912-05-31
IN ZZZEZH52EHzN GAZ.LE0Y

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, some 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 Historiales" of Fray Pedro
Simon, learned Franciscan monk who wrote
nearly three centuries ago. while some of the
conquistadores We're 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 Elegias de Varones Ilustres
de midas 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 Jimnez de Que
sada in his celebrated campaign against the Mu-
tscas 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 pa-
teau OF Cundinamarca and in the sultry lowlands
of the Meta and the Guayiare
But although these and similar invaluable
works bearing the expeditions in quest of the
Gilded King have appeared in Spanish compare
lively little of the information contained in them
has yet made its way into English. This ex
plains the numerous errors that are found in
what has hitherto been written on the subject
and why many Adventures like Antonio Sedeno
Diego de 0rdaz, Nicolas Federmann and others
of their contemporaries are classed among those
who sought for Ell Dorado when. as a matter OF
fact, during their time one had even heard of
this mythical parsonage.
1t is a 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. one which shall embody the
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 our sister continent.
For the years devoted TO the quest of the Gilded
King were not only years crowded with nci.
dent, streaked with tragedy stained by crime.
darkened by intrigue" but they were also gears
during which the amazing audacity, the match
less prowess and the thrilling heroism of the
conqustadores were seen at their best And the
study of these years will show that the prime
mover of the Spaniards in their extraordinary
adventures was not only thirst for gold as is
SO often asserted. but that behind it all was
love of glory. and a sense of patriotism which
impelled them to make sacrifices and to under
take enterprises before which even the brayest
men of our degenerate age would recof with
horror
1t was In 1885 that q rowing Indian first told
the Spaniards the story of the gilded chieftain
TO whom they forthwith gave the name Of Ell no.
sado-the Gilded Man or king-a name which
was subsequently applied not only to the silaea
chief himself but also to the city wherein he was
supposed to reside, and to the province oyer
which he bore rule, and to the lake on which
his capital was said to be located. AT that time
Sebastian Belalcazar, the lieutenant Of Francisco
Pizarro, was in Quito, whittier be had sone after